Cambodia is fast-tracking a new Anti-Telecommunication Fraud Law to strengthen its legal framework and intensify efforts against increasingly complex online scam operations, according to an official government announcement on Wednesday.
A report by local media outlet The Cambodia China Times indicates that the Ministry of Justice has completed a draft of the proposed legislation and submitted it for an inter-ministerial technical meeting review. The legislation was prepared under instructions from Prime Minister Hun Manet.
The meeting, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Koeut Rith, brought together representatives from the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Economy and Finance, National Bank of Cambodia, Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, and the National Committee for Combating Cybercrime.
Discussions focused on refining specific legal provisions, with authorities aiming to complete technical revisions before submitting the bill to the Cabinet for further consideration in the near future.
The Ministry of Justice said the proposed law is designed to strengthen prevention, enforcement, and punishment mechanisms related to telecom and online fraud. It will also clarify the division of responsibilities among law enforcement agencies, improve operational efficiency, and enhance inter-agency coordination. Officials noted that the legislation is intended to provide stronger legal support for ongoing nationwide enforcement campaigns.
Cambodia has recently intensified its crackdown on telecom and internet-based scams, which have drawn growing domestic and international scrutiny. The government has established a timeline to complete nationwide enforcement operations against such criminal activities by the end of April this year.
Authorities said the campaign includes the removal of individuals involved in fraudulent activities and measures to prevent the country from being used again as a base for cross-border criminal networks.
Officials emphasized that the new law will serve as a key pillar in sustaining long-term anti-fraud efforts and ensuring consistent enforcement across the country.
Cambodia is also strengthening its regulatory and financial oversight framework to avoid being placed on the Financial Action Task Force’s grey list for a third time. As part of this effort, authorities are enhancing anti-money laundering and know-your-customer policies nationwide.
