The Ministry of Interior has requested that banks and microfinance institutions cooperate with law enforcement to suppress phone and social media scams after discovering that more than $800,000 in fraud-related funds had been transferred from victims into bank accounts controlled by the perpetrators.
Speaking at the closing session of the National Consultation Workshop on the Draft National Identity Strategy Phase II (2026–2035) on Monday afternoon, November 24, interior minister Sar Sokha stated that in recent times, the ministry has received around 200 complaints involving phone and social media fraud scams which stole over $800,000. The stolen funds were transferred directly from victims into bank accounts belonging to criminals.
He explained that the scams usually involve fraudsters impersonating bank or microfinance officers. Criminals call targets pretending to offer prize winnings but require advance payment. In other cases, criminals lure victims with discounted online purchases and demand prepayment, only to disappear after receiving the money. Some scams also involve criminals illegally accessing victims’ bank accounts to withdraw or transfer funds.
He highlighted the importance of banks and microfinance institutions cooperating with authorities to help prevent and suppress such cases.
Sokha stressed that solving the problem must start with the interior ministry itself, instructing relevant departments to establish a working mechanism for joint investigation and enforcement against these crimes.
“Through this mechanism, our officers will work 24 hours a day, coordinating with representatives of banks and microfinance institutions when receiving complaints from victims, including requesting the immediate freezing of criminals’ accounts,” he said.
“If such as an incident happens, we must be able to act immediately. Some cases occur on Saturday or Sunday, and by the time staff return to work, the funds have already been moved or withdrawn. We need urgent action, and our specialised units require cooperation from banking and microfinance institutions, because at this stage the authority also lies within those institutions,” he added.
