(Phnom Penh): Cambodia firmly rejects the recent allegations made by Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong of Thailand’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, as reported in the Bangkok Post on 20 June 2025. The claim that Cambodia may be harboring “the world’s largest cybercrime networks backed by the ruling elite” is baseless, irresponsible, and deeply misleading. It undermines efforts to foster trust and cooperation within our region.
Cambodia has never supported, nor will it ever tolerate, cybercriminal activity. The Royal Government of Cambodia remains fully committed to integrity, transparency, and adherence to the rule of law and international norms. On 20 February 2025, the Royal Government established the Commission for Combatting Online Scams to prevent, suppress, and crackdown on online scams.
Cybercrime exists within a complex and evolving ecosystem of technologies, actors, and vulnerabilities. Due to its transnational nature, combating cybercrime requires sustained collaboration, especially among governments. Transnational crime is a shared challenge that demands joint accountability—not political deflection. Thai authorities should focus on dismantling criminal networks within their own borders and engage in constructive cooperation rather than irresponsible finger-pointing.
Cambodia is concerned by reports of complicit relationships between Thai authorities and cybercrime actors in allowing for scam operations to expand (1)Thailand being a hub for scam gang leaders and foreign scam operations; (2) and widespread recruitment, abduction, and trafficking from within Thailand to scam centers—one case involved Chinese actor Wang Xing being trafficked from Suvarnabhumi Airport to a scam compound, contributing to a significant decline in Chinese tourism (*3). These reports highlight that Thailand acts as a transit point and source country for these scam operations in the region (*4).
Combating cybercrime requires regional collaboration. Cambodia has consistently worked, and will continue to work, in close cooperation with regional and global partners to combat cybercrime. It is regrettable that, at a time of heightened tensions, certain parties have chosen to cast Cambodia in a negative light rather than pursue constructive and positive dialogue.
Cambodia, as always, stands ready to engage in open and constructive dialogue and thorough investigation. We urge all parties to act based on facts, not misinformation or politically driven narratives.
+ References:
(*1) Thailand's scam centre crackdown not enough, top lawmaker warns, Reuters, 27 February 2025, https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thailands-scam-centre-crackdown-not-enough-top-lawmaker-warns-2025-02-27/
(*2) Thai police arrest Japanese man over retiree scam, The Straits Times, 14 January 2025, https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/thai-police-arrest-japanese-man-over-retiree-scam; see also Two alleged Chinese call-centre kingpins arrested in Bangkok, The Straits Times, 06 February 2025, https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/two-alleged-chinese-call-centre-kingpins-arrested-in-bangkok; Thai police arrest 13 foreigners in alleged US$1.2 million investment scam targeting Australians, Channel News Asia, 17 June 2025, https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/thailand-arrest-foreigners-online-investment-scam-targeting-australians-5187086
(*3) Inflection Point: Global Implications of Scam Centres, Underground Banking and Illicit Online Marketplaces in Southeast Asia, United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime, April 2025, pp 53, 57, and 65, https://www.unodc.org/roseap/uploads/documents/Publications/2025/Inflection_Point_2025.pdf; see also A kidnapped Chinese actor, a scam gang, and a very public rescue operation, The Guardian, 14 January 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/14/wang-xing-chinese-actor-abduction-thailand-myanmar-scam-ntwnfb
(*4) Insight 2025/2026 - Southeast Asia’s Scam Empire, Channel News Asia, 19 June 2025, https://www.channelnewsasia.com/watch/insight-20252026/southeast-asias-scam-empire-5191396; see also Thailand ready to welcome 7,000 trafficked scam call center victims back from Myanmar; The Register, 21 February 2025, https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/21/thailand_ready_to_welcome_7000/; They Were Forced To Scam Others Worldwide. Now Thousands Are Detained on the Myanmar Border; PBS, 10 March 2025, https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/scam-centers-trafficking-myanmar/
=FRESH NEWS
