Nearly 3,000 Indonesians in Phnom Penh Seek Help After Online Scams

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Indonesian citizens as the number of people seeking assistance continues to rise amid a surge in cases involving online scam syndicates in Cambodia.

“The embassy is working to ensure that the basic needs of Indonesian citizens are met while they await the process of returning to Indonesia,” Indonesian Ambassador to Cambodia Santo Darmosumarto said in a press statement on Saturday, January 31, as quoted by Antara.

Ambassador Santo said the number of Indonesians reporting to the embassy continues to rise. Most of them were previously trapped in online scam syndicates operating in Cambodia.

Between January 16 and January 31, 2026, as of 5 p.m. local time, a total of 2,887 Indonesians had come directly to the embassy to request assistance with their repatriation to Indonesia.

Amid the surge in cases and the ongoing debate in Indonesia over the legal status of affected citizens, the embassy has remained focused on its primary duty to assist and protect Indonesians abroad who require support.

At the same time, the embassy continues to coordinate with relevant Indonesian authorities, including law enforcement, on follow-up measures upon the citizens' return home.

Most Indonesians who have reported to the embassy are staying independently in guest houses or hotels while awaiting deportation. However, more than 900 others are currently being accommodated in temporary shelters coordinated by the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh in cooperation with local authorities.

At these locations, the embassy is working to provide basic necessities, particularly food and drinking water. With support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Immigration and Correctional Affairs' technical assistance team, the assessment of reports and issuance of Emergency Travel Documents, known as Surat Perjalanan Laksana Paspor, have been intensified and expedited.

The embassy hopes that all Indonesians without passports will be able to return home soon, once their travel documents are issued. In the near term, the embassy is also intensifying coordination with Cambodian immigration authorities to secure exit permits and obtain relief from immigration fines incurred by the affected citizens. ***