China has expressed firm support for the government’s ongoing efforts to combat online scam operations. It has pledged additional cooperation to eradicate these crimes in Cambodia, said the Ministry of Information.
The support was conveyed through Chinese ambassador Wang Wenbin during a meeting with senior minister Chhay Sinarith, who leads the secretariat of the Ad Hoc Commission​ to Combat Online Scams, on the morning of July 17.
During the meeting, both sides shared their appreciation for the previous close cooperation between the two countries and exchanged views and experiences related to combating technology-based fraud, said the ministry.
Sinarith explained that the role of the secretariat is to lead, monitor and support sub-national mechanisms and other relevant institutions to enhance the effectiveness of ongoing operations to eliminate technology-based fraud.
He also noted that it is ready to collaborate with other nations in the fight against such crimes.
Wang noted that the establishment of the commission and the government’s recent directives demonstrated Cambodia’s strong and genuine commitment to tackling technology-based fraud.
“The Chinese side will provide support and cooperation to contribute to the elimination of technology-based fraud,” he was quoted as saying.
Several international organisations, including the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), have reported a high prevalence of online fraud in Cambodia. The government has implemented continuous crackdown measures, with the latest campaign announced on July 15.
So far this month, operations targeting online fraud cases have led to the arrest of approximately 1,000 suspects, most of them foreign nationals.
