Cambodia and South Korea form joint task force to combat online scamming
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Cambodia and South Korea have agreed on three main points, including blacklisting suspects and increasing public awareness.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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Cambodia and South Korea have reached an agreement on three concrete measures to boost cooperation in fighting online scamming networks that have affected citizens of both countries
Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Sokha on the afternoon of Oct 17 had met Dr Kim Jina, who is South Korea’s Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as her delegation at the Ministry of Interior in Phnom Penh.
According to the Interior Ministry, the discussions were held in an open and constructive spirit, reflecting both nations’ commitment to intensifying their cooperation against transnational cybercrime.
The two sides agreed on three main points:
A joint task force
Cambodia’s Interior Ministry and South Korea will establish a joint task force, similar to mechanisms Cambodia has formed with other countries, to speed up coordination in preventing and cracking down on online scams.
Dr Kim pledged that Korea would provide support through training, capacity-building, information-sharing and experience exchange with Cambodia’s specialised law enforcement officials.
Blacklist of suspects
South Korea will prepare and submit a list of criminal suspects, including foreign ringleaders of online scamming networks, for Cambodia to review.
Cambodian authorities will examine legal measures to blacklist these individuals and ban their entry into the country.
Mr Sar Sokha described this as a key pillar of bilateral and international cooperation, adding that the government would direct officials at all border checkpoints to remain alert and detain blacklisted offenders immediately.
Public awareness
Both countries agreed to enhance education and awareness campaigns to inform citizens about the dangers of online scamming and to encourage other countries to work together on sustained efforts against such crimes.
Online scams ‘a shared global problem’
Mr Sar Sokha had praised Dr Kim’s visit and described it as “a model of practical cooperation” in addressing a shared global problem.
“Efforts to fight online scamming are not just for the Korean or Cambodian people, but for humanity as a whole,” he said.
He reaffirmed that Cambodia has strictly enforced laws on online scamming by arresting offenders, mostly foreigners, prosecuting them in court, and repatriating them to their home countries.
Cambodia has also shared intelligence on scam masterminds and money-laundering operations with countries both within and outside the region.
However, he expressed regret that some countries and international organisations “choose to ignore these results” and instead place blame on Cambodia
