In a sweeping nationwide crackdown on online scams, the Cambodian government has arrested 2,780 individuals, including 339 Indonesian citizens, as part of a coordinated operation across 15 provinces that began on July 14, 2025. 

Indonesian Ambassador to Cambodia, Santo Darmosumarto, met on Monday, July 21, 2025 with Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith, Head of Cambodia’s Committee to Combat Online Scams (CCOS), to discuss the operation’s implications and future cooperation.

According to Sinarith, those detained include foreign nationals from China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, South Korea, Pakistan, and others. The crackdown follows a directive from Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet issued on February 14, 2025, highlighting the government’s determination to combat online fraud, a top priority for both Cambodia and the region.

“This operation is a direct implementation of Prime Minister Hun Manet’s orders and reflects Cambodia’s strong commitment to eradicating online scam activities,” Chhay Sinarith said during the bilateral meeting on Monday, July 21, 2025.

Cambodian authorities will now proceed with investigations into each individual case, particularly focusing on foreign nationals. Legal proceedings are expected for those found to be involved in criminal acts such as money laundering, job fraud, and physical violence associated with scam operations.

Ambassador Darmosumarto expressed full support for Cambodia’s legal enforcement efforts and emphasized the importance of regional collaboration in tackling the cross-border nature of cyber-enabled crimes.

“Transnational online scams demand close cooperation between affected countries,” he said. “In line with the 2023 ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Combating Trafficking in Persons Caused by the Abuse of Technology, the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh is ready to enhance coordination with relevant agencies in both Cambodia and Indonesia.”

The ambassador also underlined the need to safeguard the rights of the Indonesians detained. “While we fully support Cambodian law enforcement, we must also ensure that our citizens are afforded their basic rights, including access to consular services and clear legal information,” he said.

Following initial media reports about the crackdown, the Indonesian Embassy has been actively liaising with Cambodian police across various provinces, particularly in Poipet, where the majority − 271 out of 339 − of Indonesian detainees were found.

Police reported difficulties during early investigations due to uncooperative behavior from some Indonesian nationals, including falsification of names and personal information. Nevertheless, authorities confirmed to the embassy that all Indonesian detainees are in safe and stable condition.

The Embassy’s data reveals a troubling rise in the involvement of Indonesian nationals in online scams in Cambodia. In 2024 alone, out of 3,310 problematic citizen cases handled, approximately 75 percent were related to online scam activities − a 250-percent increase from 2023. The trend has only worsened in 2025, with 2,585 cases recorded in the first half of the year, 83 percent of which were scam-related. Many Indonesians reportedly fell prey to deceptive job offers promising high salaries with minimal qualifications.

In response, the Indonesian Embassy continues to strengthen protection diplomacy by working with stakeholders both in Cambodia and Indonesia. The Indonesian government urges its citizens not to accept informal job offers abroad, especially those linked to illegal activities, as doing so carries significant legal risks under foreign jurisdictions.