Ly Yong Phat, a well-known Cambodian entrepreneur and sitting senator, has thrown his personal weight behind the government's effort to stamp out online fraud, calling technology-driven scams a grave cross-border crime that endangers ordinary people, honest businesses and Cambodia's standing abroad.

He voiced complete and unconditional backing for the government's policies and its firm steps to shut down and permanently wipe out every site and network tied to technology-enabled scams operating in the country.

Yong Phat announced a stance of "zero tolerance" toward online scam offences "with no exceptions whatsoever," and lent his support to the two-day International Conference on Combating Online Scams, which began in Phnom Penh on 23 September under the leadership of Prime Minister Hun Manet.

According to Yong Phat, the crime puts the population at risk, undermines the country's legitimate business climate, erodes investor trust and tarnishes Cambodia's image.

As a domestic businessman and investor, he said he was prepared to work alongside the government, law enforcement bodies and international partners to shield the public, defend the nation's reputation and help build a clean digital future.

Echoing the Prime Minister's Message

His pledge reflected a key theme from Manet's opening speech, in which the premier urged investors, property owners, recruiters and other commercial players to help stop criminal groups from abusing legitimate business activities.

"Cambodia will never be a safe haven for online scams," the prime minister stated. "Cambodia will not allow criminal syndicates to undermine our country's progress and the livelihoods of over 17 million Cambodian people."

Manet emphasised that the crime had not begun in Cambodia, nor was it limited to the Kingdom.

"Accountability must be proven through uncompromising internal actions," he said.

He noted that up-to-date anti-scam laws needed to go after whole criminal networks, taking in the leaders, financiers, recruiters, property owners and anyone else who knowingly supports their operations.

Cambodia's Legal Framework

Under Manet's direct oversight, Cambodia set up the Commission on Combating Online Scams in February 2025 and later passed the Law on Combating Online Scams in April 2026.

"We treat law enforcement as a standing national security obligation and not a public relations campaign," the prime minister said.

He reported that authorities had broken up all major scam compounds in the country, though he cautioned that criminal syndicates were now trying to reorganise into smaller, more scattered operations.

A Personal Dimension

Yong Phat's public support carries added meaning given his own history, as he has previously dismissed reports in Thai media linking him and his companies to alleged cybercrime and money laundering.

In an interview in November 2025, he rejected claims that Thai authorities had searched 36 properties and frozen assets valued at 400 million baht, roughly $12.3 million, said to be connected to online scams.

He said he had run lawful casino operations for more than 20 years and had leased out some buildings to third parties after those businesses shut down during the Covid-19 pandemic.

"I don't operate scam centres. I built my company with my own hands, and I have always contributed to Cambodia's growth," he said.