(Phnom Penh): Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said Cambodia will host an international conference on combating online scams on 23-24 September, describing the event as an honour for the kingdom and a sign of growing international cooperation in tackling technology-enabled fraud.

Speaking at the inauguration of Luang Me Hospital on Wednesday (Sep. 16), the premier said Cambodia will continue its relentless crackdown on online scams, while online betting and gambling operations will no longer be permitted from the beginning of October.

“As for online scams, we will continue the crackdown relentlessly and will not allow them to re-emerge,” Samdech Thipadei said. “We already have the necessary laws and mechanisms in place. Later this month, we will host an international conference.”

“This is a source of great pride for us,” the premier said, adding that international partners are now cooperating with Cambodia to organise the conference. He described this as international recognition of the country’s anti-scam efforts.

On the occasion, Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet said hosting the conference reflects Cambodia’s efforts to strengthen cooperation with international partners against technology-enabled fraud and criminal networks.

He also acknowledged the crackdown’s economic impact on some businesses but stressed that Cambodia’s economy cannot rely on illegal activities.

The International Conference on Combating Online Scams (ICCOS), scheduled for 23-24 September, s organized under the theme Acting Together towards Breaking the Chain and Eradication of Online Scams. It is being hosted because online scams have evolved into a global pandemic, transforming from traditional fraud into highly sophisticated transnational criminal enterprises. These networks involve human trafficking, money laundering, and the misuse of emerging technologies like AI, deepfake, and cryptocurrencies, creating a multidimensional challenge that no single country can effectively address alone.

The conference will bring together senior government officials, policymakers, law enforcement agencies, financial regulators, cybersecurity experts, technology companies, academic institutions, civil society organizations, and international partners from around the world.
=FRESH NEWS