Cambodia Cracks Down on Online Scams with Tough New Legislation

Cambodia has taken a significant step towards combating online scams with the passage of a draft law targeting cybercrime operations. The National Assembly unanimously approved the legislation on Monday, which now awaits Senate review before being signed into effect by King Norodom Sihamoni.

The law introduces prison terms of up to life for those running large-scale fraud networks, as well as fines and penalties for lower-level scammers. Scam bosses face 15-30 years in prison or life imprisonment if their operations result in deaths, while ringleaders could receive between five and 10 years in prison, or up to 20 years and steep fines in cases involving violence, trafficking, or forced labor.

Experts warn that the crackdown may only displace the industry rather than destroy it, as scam networks are highly portable and can easily move operations to other countries. The use of cryptocurrency has made it easier for scammers to launder money and evade detection, but authorities are increasing their efforts to combat this trend.