Cambodia Releases Findings from Year-Long Online Scam Crackdown

Jakob Schmitz · Jul 28, 2026

Cambodia Releases Findings from Year-Long Online Scam Crackdown

Cambodian officials reviewing casino inspection documents during the nationwide review

The Cambodian government has issued a detailed one-year report covering its online scam crackdown from June 2025 through June 2026, and the document outlines a series of inspections along with enforcement steps taken across the country. Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith submitted the findings to a Cabinet meeting on July 24 2026, where Prime Minister Hun Manet reviewed the progress and acknowledged the coordinated efforts by multiple agencies.

Inspectors examined all 195 licensed casinos operating nationwide, and the review uncovered that 72 of those facilities had connections to online fraud activities. Authorities responded by revoking 19 licenses outright, suspending 30 others, and allowing 23 casinos to close once their permits expired without renewal. These measures formed part of a broader strategy to disrupt networks that had used casino premises as bases for fraudulent operations.

Scope of the Nationwide Casino Inspection

Teams conducted systematic checks at every licensed site, and they documented evidence of online scam involvement through financial records, server activity, and operational patterns. The inspection process took several months to complete because officials needed to verify details across multiple provinces while coordinating with local authorities. Once the results were compiled, the report presented clear breakdowns of which casinos faced penalties and which ones avoided further action due to clean records.

Data from the review showed that the 72 implicated casinos represented a significant portion of the total licensed establishments, yet the remaining 123 facilities continued operations after demonstrating compliance with anti-fraud regulations. Officials noted that license revocations and suspensions created immediate operational changes for affected businesses, while the 23 closures occurred naturally at the end of permit periods rather than through forced shutdowns.

Raids on Scam Centers and Resulting Deportations

Alongside the casino inspections, law enforcement carried out raids on 737 scam centers during the same twelve-month period. These operations targeted locations where groups coordinated large-scale online fraud schemes, and they led to the removal of more than 21,100 individuals through deportation proceedings. The figures reflect sustained activity across multiple regions, with teams focusing on both urban hubs and remote compounds that had previously operated with limited oversight.

Each raid involved collaboration between national police units and immigration authorities, and the combined efforts produced a steady flow of deportations that continued throughout the year. Reports indicate that many of the deported individuals held foreign passports, which prompted additional coordination with embassies to arrange repatriation logistics. The overall numbers demonstrate the scale of enforcement actions taken in parallel with the casino licensing reviews.

Enforcement teams coordinating during a raid on an online scam facility in Cambodia

International Cooperation and Reporting Process

The report also highlights strengthened ties with foreign governments and international organizations, and these partnerships supported information sharing that helped identify cross-border scam networks. Cambodian officials exchanged data on known fraud operations with counterparts in several countries, which in turn aided in tracking individuals who moved between jurisdictions. Such cooperation contributed to both the raid operations and the deportation processes by providing advance intelligence on targets and travel patterns.

Prime Minister Hun Manet received the submission during the July 24 Cabinet meeting and noted the outcomes achieved over the twelve months. The document itself serves as an internal record of actions completed, and it includes statistics on license decisions, raid counts, and deportation totals without additional commentary on future plans. Observers who have followed similar enforcement campaigns in the region recognize the level of detail provided in the summary.

Key Statistics from the One-Year Period

  • 195 licensed casinos inspected nationwide
  • 72 casinos found linked to online fraud
  • 19 licenses revoked
  • 30 licenses suspended
  • 23 casinos closed after permit expiry
  • 737 scam centers raided
  • Over 21,100 deportations completed

These numbers appear together in the official report, and they illustrate the dual focus on regulatory oversight of casinos alongside direct action against dedicated scam facilities. The data points connect various strands of the crackdown into a single overview that Cabinet members reviewed in late July 2026.

Conclusion

The one-year report on Cambodia's online scam crackdown presents a consolidated account of inspections, license actions, raids, and deportations carried out between June 2025 and June 2026. Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith delivered the findings to the July 24 Cabinet meeting, where they received acknowledgment from Prime Minister Hun Manet. The documented outcomes cover 195 casino inspections that identified 72 facilities involved in fraud, resulting in 19 revocations, 30 suspensions, and 23 closures at expiry, while separate operations targeted 737 scam centers and produced more than 21,100 deportations. Strengthened international cooperation supported these activities throughout the period. Readers can access further details through the original coverage at the report summary.