More Than 6,000 Indonesians Involved in Online Scam Syndicates in Cambodia: Embassy
- 28 Mar 2026 11:10 WIB
- Voice of Indonesia
Key Points
- Over 6,000 Indonesians reported involvement in online fraud syndicates in Cambodia between January 16 and March 26, 2026.
- The Embassy repatriated 2,528 citizens, issued 2,346 travel documents, and sheltered 300 Indonesians with Cambodian government support.
- The surge in reports coincided with Cambodia’s crackdown on online fraud syndicates ahead of Khmer New Year in April 2026.
RRI.CO.ID, Phnom Penh - More than 6,000 Indonesian citizens have been involved in an online fraud syndicate in Cambodia, according to self-reports submitted by Indonesians formerly involved in online fraud syndicates to the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh.
In its statement, the Embassy noted that between January 16 and March 26, 2026, a total of 6,308 Indonesians reported themselves. Many of them also requested government assistance to return to Indonesia.
“Of that number, between January 30 and March 26, the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh facilitated the phased return of 2,528 Indonesians to Indonesia. As of March 26, 2026, the Cambodian government waived overstay fines for 4,361 Indonesians,” the Embassy said in a statement to RRI on Friday, March 27, 2026.
The Embassy has also issued Travel Documents in Lieu of Passports (SPLP) for 2,346 Indonesians without valid travel documents. Temporary shelters have been provided for those facing financial difficulties while awaiting repatriation.
Currently, around 300 Indonesians remain in temporary shelters, which are also supported by the Cambodian government.
The Embassy reported a surge in Indonesians seeking direct assistance over the past two and a half months. This coincided with intensified operations by the Cambodian government to dismantle online fraud syndicates since mid-January 2026.
The Cambodian government has set a target to eliminate online fraud syndicate activities from its territory before the Khmer New Year celebrations in mid-April 2026. This effort has contributed to the rising number of Indonesians leaving the networks.
“The Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh reaffirms its commitment to protecting Indonesian citizens and coordinating with law enforcement agencies in Indonesia to investigate former members of online fraud syndicates, particularly to identify the extent of Indonesians’ involvement in these illegal activities,” the statement concluded. (Gusti Panji/Lasti Martina)
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