FBI Officials Laud Cambodia's "Tangible" Progress in Crackdown on Online Scams

Phnom Penh, February 6, 2026 – Senior U.S. FBI officials have commended the "tangible" progress made by the Royal Cambodian Government in its relentless campaign against online scams, a significant endorsement that validates the Kingdom's efforts to dismantle transnational criminal networks.

On Wednesday, Mr. Scott Schelble, Deputy Assistant Director of the FBI's International Operations Division, met with His Excellency Santepundit Chhay Sinarith, Delegate Minister and Secretary-General of the Counter Cyber Scam Committee (CCOS)

"These recent actions send a clear signal: Cambodia is no longer a safe haven for cyber fraud syndicates," stated Mr. Schelble, emphasizing that cyber fraud represents a "complex global crisis" affecting many countries. He reaffirmed the FBI's commitment to deepening its cooperation with the CCOS, which is essential given the scale of these crimes.

For his part, Minister Santepundit Chhay Sinarith reiterated the government's unwavering determination to conduct a comprehensive "clean-up operation," despite regional challenges. Among the strategic priorities discussed were: broadening investigations to target the leaders of criminal networks rather than just low-level operatives; tracking and seizing the illicit financial flows that sustain them; and applying the "strictest legal measures" to deter any resumption of activities.

The meeting concluded with a firm commitment to enhance technical cooperation, including an action plan to boost the capabilities of Cambodian law enforcement.

This partnership comes as Cambodia intensifies its operations: in 2025, authorities dismantled over 400 scam centers, freed nearly 10,000 victims, and increased asset seizures to over $1 billion.