PHNOM PENH – The Commission for Combating Online Scams (CCOS) has cracked down on 92 online scam locations, arresting 3,455 foreigners across Phnom Penh and 17 provinces in four months.

Since its establishment in June and until October 14, provincial and capital unified command committees, under the CCOS’s direction, inspected the locations reported for online scam operations, which led to arrests of people from 20 nations.

These were Chinese, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Indian, Bangladeshi, Thai, South Korean, Pakistani, Nepali, Malaysian, Japanese, Burmese, Filipino, Laotian, Cameroonian, Nigerian, Ugandan, Sierra Leonean, Mongolian and Russian.

The Ministry of Information said materials used in online scam operations were seized and were being kept by the authorities within the capital and provinces, while the sites are closed with no entry or exit allowed.

 Police are continuing legal procedures in ten cases related to scams in Phnom Penh and Kandal, Preah Sihanouk and Kampot provinces, with the transfer of the masterminds and subordinates totaling 75 people (five female) to the court.

As many as 2,825 foreigners, including 476 women, have been deported.

The ministry said these cases involved online scams, murders and human trafficking and had been major operations combatting online scams in the past four months.

Authorities also ensured that the victims were rescued from the trafficking and destroyed the connection and the blocks of the scam centers.

On top of that, the CCOS has also been cooperating with partner countries and who are involved to investigate and gather evidence that was seized during previous operations.

These included smartphones, computers, passports and other electronic devices, of which the police could use to track down the masterminds in the country and abroad.

The investigation results, the ministry continued, will be used for another cooperation with relevant ministries, institutions, authorities, and police across the country to take actions and to enforce the laws accordingly.

Prime Minister Hun Manet has previously spoken of strict law enforcement on not only the scammers but also the authorities who help them.

He ordered all national and sub-national authorities, administrations and police to strictly take action against the fraudsters or they will be demoted or fired.

Despite the ongoing efforts, it is notable that the operations only took place when the country came under pressure from regional and international communities to suppress the scams.

Regardless, the government assured that it is one of the authorities’ priorities with the partnership and cooperation with other countries.

The government, moreover, considers it a transnational, global issue that requires all parties to join hands—not a task for any nation to complete individually.