Cambodia collaborates with Thailand to combat scam networks

The Thai and Cambodian governments are joining forces to dismantle call center scam networks. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet expressed strong commitment to this effort during a meeting with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. The meeting took place on Friday and focused on security issues, including drug trafficking and human trafficking. This visit was significant as it marked Ms. Paetongtarn's first official trip to the Army Headquarters in Bangkok. Key officials, such as the Chief of Defence Forces and representatives from various military branches, attended. After the meeting, Ms. Paetongtarn reported that she discussed the crackdown on call center scams with Prime Minister Hun Manet. She emphasized that Cambodia is fully cooperating and that communication between the two countries remains open. Both leaders aim to work together to address ongoing challenges in this area. The Thai Prime Minister noted that while the progress in combating call center scams has been good, they aim for complete eradication. She emphasized the need for more support from the private sector in this endeavor. Concerns have been raised about Thai citizens being scammed in the Poi Pet area of Cambodia. Ms. Paetongtarn assured that the government is proactively working with Cambodian authorities to address these issues. Moreover, the repatriation of Thai nationals caught in scam networks is ongoing. Critics argue that the government’s response has been slow. They highlight that only around 100 individuals have been rescued, even though thousands are believed to be involved. Thai police are actively collaborating with Cambodian authorities to take further actions against these gangs. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also assisting foreign nationals exploited by these scam operations. As of recent reports, over 7,000 foreign victims have been helped, with many returning to their home countries.