PHNOM PENH: Ratanakiri provincial governor Nhem Sam Oeun has reassured the public that no online scam operations are operating in the north-eastern province, as Cambodian authorities continue a nationwide crackdown on cyber-fraud networks.
Since July 2025, authorities have targeted around 250 suspected locations, leading to the closure of nearly 200 scam centres and the arrest of more than 3,400 suspects, most of them foreign nationals.
Officials said the operations also resulted in 79 court cases involving 697 suspected ringleaders and their accomplices, while about 11,000 foreign workers linked to scam activities were deported.
The crackdown has focused on Phnom Penh and at least 17 provinces, including Preah Sihanouk, Kandal and Poipet, where authorities have identified clusters of cyber-fraud operations.
Speaking to the media on March 13, Sam Oeun insisted that Ratanakiri remains free from such activities.
“Online scam operations do not exist in Ratanakiri province. I absolutely do not allow them,” he said.
He added that the province also maintains strict control over all forms of gambling, including cockfighting, card games and other traditional betting activities.
“People often say gambling brings harm, loss of money, wasted time and sometimes violence. We do not allow such activities,” he said.
Sam Oeun noted that monitoring foreign visitors in the province is relatively straightforward due to its smaller population and the limited amount of accommodation.
“Ratanakiri does not face the same level of complexity as Phnom Penh, where there are many crowded areas,” he said.
“Here, if a guesthouse has four or five foreign visitors, we can easily identify whether they are tourists, investors or something else. The difference is very clear,” he explained.
The governor acknowledged that authorities face challenges in controlling online gambling activities conducted through mobile phones.
He also stressed that online gambling and online scam operations are different in nature, noting that scam networks typically involve organised groups engaged in fraud targeting victims abroad.
Cambodia has intensified its campaign against cyber-crime in recent months following international concerns about the country being used as a base for online scam syndicates.
Authorities say the latest crackdown reflects a stronger commitment to eliminating such operations and protecting the country’s reputation. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
