Interior ministry spokesperson Touch Sokhak argued that the report was an attempt to ‘scapegoat’ Cambodia. Supplied
The Cambodian government has dismissed a recent international report alleging that the Kingdom is a global epicentre for transnational cybercrime, calling it politically motivated and lacking in scientific credibility.
The report, “Policies and Patterns: State-Abetted Transnational Crime in Cambodia as a Global Security Threat”, authored by Jacob Sims and published earlier this month, alleges that the ruling party, the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), has enabled and profited from widespread scam operations.
“Scamming has become an enormously profitable domestic industry, likely unparalleled in the Kingdom’s history,” said the report.
“Formal estimates range from $12.5 to $19 billion per year, equivalent to as much as 60% of GDP and significantly eclipsing the country’s largest formal sector, the garment and textiles industry,” it alleged.
The report suggested that despite international outcry, reforms remain unlikely due to elite co-perpetration, systemic repression and geopolitics, especially involving China.
Civil society, once a key check, has been silenced, while the international community struggles to respond effectively.
Ministry of Interior spokesman Touch Sokhak rejected the findings, calling the report’s title “ridiculous” and asserting that it was “a scenario to use as a tool to blame smaller countries that are technologically weak”.
“The question is, is Cambodia a superpower or a technologically advanced country? The answer is no,” Sokhak said, on May 20.
“Overall, Cambodia, like some other countries, is affected by superpowers, technologically advanced countries, where technological crimes occur there and crimes spread to smaller countries,” he added.
Sokhak argued that the report selectively targets a nation with limited digital infrastructure, using it as a scapegoat to deflect from cybercrime issues occurring in wealthier states.
As an example, he cited the US, referencing frequent reports of online fraud targeting American pensioners.
He further questioned the motives behind the publication, suggesting that the timing of the report — released ahead of Cambodia’s upcoming national election — indicates an underlying political agenda.
“It is a malicious intention to make a small country suffer, either under the geopolitical framework or as a topic leading to the election,” he said.
“Political topics will continue,” he added.
Sokhak also criticised the report’s methodology, claiming it was not grounded in scientific research and relied on sources from unverified groups.
He expressed particular concern about the presence of the US flag on the report’s cover, stating that it portrayed the document as representing the views of a global superpower and thus undermined its objectivity.
While the report has drawn attention from some international watchdogs and civil society actors concerned with rising levels of organised cybercrime in the region, Cambodia’s official position remains that it is being unfairly singled out.
According to the report, the epicentre for this industry is Southeast Asia, particularly Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos.
It suggested that in these countries alone, the cybercriminal labour force easily exceeds 350,000 people. The report claimed that conservative estimates placed the annual revenue generated by regional scam syndicates at between $50 and 75 billion.
