Cambodia passes sweeping anti-tech fraud law

Cambodia’s National Assembly has unanimously approved a landmark bill aimed at tackling online scams, a booming criminal industry that has turned the country into a global hub for cybercrime. All 112 lawmakers present voted in favour during the Assembly’s 5th session of the 7th legislature, chaired by president Khuon Sudary.

The new law, comprising five chapters and 24 articles, is Cambodia’s first dedicated framework against technology-based fraud. It introduces tough penalties for those running scam centres, with prison terms ranging from five to 30 years depending on the severity of offences, and fines up to $250,000. Cases involving human trafficking, confinement or violence could lead to life sentences.

Justice Minister Keut Rith told parliament that thousands of foreign workers are lured into Cambodia with fake job offers and forced to operate scams in near-slavery conditions. He warned that such crimes not only threaten public security but also damage the country’s international reputation.

The legislation comes amid mounting evidence of the scale of the problem. Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith, who heads the Commission for Combating Online Scams, said authorities have raided 250 suspected sites since July, shutting down 200 and launching 79 legal cases against nearly 700 ringleaders. Nearly 10,000 workers from 23 countries have been repatriated.

Despite these efforts, experts remain cautious. Jacob Sims, a visiting fellow at Harvard University’s Asia Center, noted that past crackdowns often failed because financial and protection networks remained intact, allowing operations to restart quickly.

Alongside the anti-fraud bill, lawmakers also passed amendments to the Senate election law, revising articles to improve accountability and strengthen ties between senators and local communities. The system, unchanged since 2005, has long been criticised for leaving representatives distant from voters.

Both pieces of legislation now move to the Senate for review before final approval by King Norodom Sihamoni.

For Cambodia, the stakes are high. Scam centres have been linked to bogus investment schemes and romance frauds that siphon tens of billions of dollars globally each year. The government hopes the new law will close loopholes, enhance enforcement and bolster international cooperation.

Whether these measures can dismantle entrenched networks remains to be seen. But with unanimous backing in parliament and growing pressure from abroad, Cambodia is signalling its intent to confront one of the most damaging criminal industries of the digital age.

-2026-03-31