Cambodia’s Senate Second Vice President Thun Vathana has called for zero tolerance of online scams, warning that such activities undermine national development. He said Cambodia must crack down on these crimes and build its development on a “clean economy”.
Thun Vathana said online scams are part of the illicit economy and damage Cambodia’s image, tourism and investment environment. Discussing the decline in tourist arrivals, he cited a drop of around 40% to 50%, although the report of his remarks did not specify the period or comparison baseline for that figure. He also said the decline was not entirely caused by scams: slower global growth, higher international travel costs, rising prices and the situation along the Cambodia–Thailand border were among the factors affecting tourism.
He said sustained enforcement had dealt a severe blow to large scam compounds, but criminal groups were shifting to smaller, more concealed operations. The crackdown must therefore continue, he said, urging the public to report suspected scams and help maintain a safe, stable society and business environment.
The ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO), in its 2026 Annual Consultation Report on Cambodia, identified the reputational impact of multinational sanctions related to online scams as one of the external shocks facing the economy. It said stronger action against scamming activities was necessary and supportive of long-term growth, although it could slow domestic economic activity in the short term.
