Phnom Penh:The International Conference on Combating Online Scams (ICCOS-2026) concluded with the adoption of the Phnom Penh Declaration, which outlines 11 key commitments aimed at enhancing international collaboration to address online scams and associated transnational criminal activities.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the declaration was endorsed by delegates from 28 countries and seven international organizations during the one-and-a-half-day conference. The commitments focus on strengthening international cooperation, disrupting criminal networks, recovering criminal proceeds, leveraging technology, enhancing legal frameworks, and building capacity. It also emphasizes the importance of public-private partnerships and victim protection, including the implementation of a non-punishment principle for victims.

The Phnom Penh Declaration highlights the necessity of intelligence sharing, financial investigations, and mutual legal assistance. It calls for stronger cross-border law enforcement cooperation and raises awareness of the public-private sector's role. The conference observed that online scam networks are becoming more sophisticated, using smaller, decentralized cells and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, underscoring the need for sustained efforts beyond disrupting individual operations.

Cambodia reiterated its commitment to pursuing perpetrators, dismantling online scam networks, and enhancing victim-focused protection measures. Over the past year, Cambodian authorities conducted inspections and crackdowns at 832 online scam sites, referred 446 cases involving 3,927 suspects to court, and deported 22,142 foreign nationals from 38 countries.

The country also pledged to work with international partners to implement the Phnom Penh Declaration's commitments, ensuring effective measures to safeguard victims and prevent the resurgence of online scam networks.