Cambodia is accelerating efforts to tackle rising telecom and online fraud by drafting a new Anti-Telecommunication Fraud Law. According to local media reports, the Ministry of Justice has completed the initial draft and submitted it for review at an inter-ministerial technical meeting, following instructions from Prime Minister Hun Manet.
Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Koeut Rith chaired the high-level meeting, which brought together representatives from key government bodies, including the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the National Bank of Cambodia, the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, and the National Committee for Combating Cybercrime.
Strengthening Legal Framework Against Online Fraud
The proposed legislation aims to strengthen Cambodia’s legal framework to address increasingly complex telecom and internet-based scam operations. Authorities are refining specific provisions before submitting the bill to the Cabinet for further consideration.
The new Anti-Telecommunication Fraud Law is designed to:
- Enhance prevention, enforcement, and punishment mechanisms
- Clarify responsibilities among law enforcement agencies
- Improve inter-agency coordination and operational efficiency
- Provide stronger legal backing for nationwide anti-scam campaigns
Officials stated that the law will serve as a long-term pillar in sustaining consistent enforcement across the country.
Nationwide Crackdown and Financial Oversight
Cambodia has intensified its crackdown on cross-border scam networks amid growing domestic and international scrutiny. The government aims to complete nationwide enforcement operations by the end of April, remove individuals involved in fraudulent activities, and prevent criminal syndicates from using the country as an operational base.
In addition, authorities are strengthening anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) measures to reduce the risk of returning to the Financial Action Task Force grey list for a third time.
The new law signals Cambodia’s commitment to tightening telecom fraud regulations, improving financial oversight, and reinforcing long-term cybersecurity governance.
