A Phnom Penh court has ordered the pre-trial detention of six people accused of cyber fraud after an investigation linked them to the sale of bank accounts to online scam networks.
According to Cambodia’s National Police, the suspects are alleged to have been involved in the unauthorised takeover of WhatsApp accounts and the use of bank accounts to defraud victims of more than $253,000.
The Anti-Cyber Crime Department launched its investigation on 11 May 2026 following reports of online fraud. The findings were made public on 15 June.
Authorities said investigators discovered that more than 20 bank accounts had been sold to scam networks. Six suspects were arrested during the operation, including one Vietnamese national and five Cambodians, two of whom are women.
The National Police said an investigating judge at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court had ordered the suspects to be held in pre-trial detention at Correctional Centre 1 (Prey Sar prison) while the investigation continues.
The Anti-Cyber Crime Department has urged the public not to lend, rent out, or sell bank accounts, phone numbers, or personal identification documents to others, warning that such activities could expose individuals to criminal liability.
The case comes as Cambodian authorities step up efforts to combat online fraud and cybercrime. The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications and the National Bank of Cambodia are implementing a programme to verify the identities of SIM card holders against bank and payment accounts in an effort to reduce the use of false identities in financial transactions.
Authorities have also advised the public to exercise caution when clicking on links, visiting websites, or responding to investment promotions from unverified sources. They warned people not to transfer money or disclose personal information to individuals whose identities cannot be independently verified.
Officials said fraudsters continue to employ a range of tactics, including impersonating relatives, bank employees, or company representatives in order to persuade victims to transfer money or disclose personal information, which can then be used in further fraudulent activities.
