Phnom penh: Cambodian citizens lost more than US$45 million to domestic online scams in 2025, a senior Royal Government official revealed Tuesday, warning that the psychological toll of digital extortion has driven some victims to suicide.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, speaking at the launching ceremony of a nationwide campaign in support of the Safer Internet Day 2026, held at the Royal University of Agriculture, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H.E. Abhisantibindit Sar Sokha reported that less than US$20 million of the stolen funds were recovered, with the remainder permanently lost to increasingly sophisticated syndicates.

The Interior Minister, who also chairs the National Committee for Counter Trafficking (NCCT), detailed a surge in "bank impersonation" scams, where fraudsters trick victims into transferring money under the guise of claiming prizes.

However, the Minister highlighted even more predatory methods, including: Victims are coerced into sharing explicit content, which is then used for blackmail; Exploiting emotional connections to solicit large sums of money.

H.E. Abhisantibindit Sar Sokha noted with gravity that the "shame and embarrassment" associated with these crimes has had fatal consequences in Cambodia. "While Cambodia saw losses of US$45 million last year, global losses to online fraud exceeded US$44 billion," he stated, placing the domestic crisis within a staggering international context.

The 2026 campaign, themed "Safe, Ethical, and Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)," aims to bolster digital literacy as AI becomes a primary tool for cybercriminals.

Addressing students and officials, the Deputy Prime Minister described the internet as a "double-edged sword."

"The internet itself is not inherently bad; its impact depends entirely on how we use it," he said. "Used correctly, it brings immense benefits. Used improperly, it will inevitably lead to loss."