PHNOM PENH — Cambodia’s parliament on Friday approved a new law targeting online scam operations, as authorities move to curb fraudulent activities linked to billions of dollars in global losses and address mounting international pressure.
Justice Minister Keut Rith said the legislation strengthens ongoing crackdowns on scam centers and aims to prevent their return. He said the measure supports national interests and addresses impacts on the economy, tourism, and investment.
The law imposes prison terms of two to five years and fines of up to $125,000 for individuals convicted of online scams. Courts may impose penalties of up to 10 years in prison and fines reaching $250,000 for offenses involving organized groups or multiple victims. The law also penalizes money laundering, data harvesting, and recruitment of individuals for scam operations.
The measure will be submitted to the king for final approval before it takes effect.
Cambodia previously prosecuted scam-related activities under laws covering fraud, money laundering, and exploitation, but had no statute specifically addressing online scams.
The legislation follows criticism from rights groups and actions by foreign governments targeting scam networks in Southeast Asia. Authorities in United Kingdom recently sanctioned operators of a major fraud complex in Cambodia and an online marketplace used to trade stolen personal data.
Officials said the government has expanded its enforcement campaign to shut down hundreds of suspected scam sites and detain key figures. This week, Cambodia extradited Li Xiong, a former financial executive accused of laundering money, to China. In January, authorities also arrested and extradited businessman Chen Zhi over alleged involvement in large-scale scam and money laundering operations.
