ASIATODAY.ID, PHNOM PENH – Cambodia has now become a heaven for online scam criminals in Southeast Asia.
The number of Indonesian citizens is among the largest involved in criminal cases in Cambodia, and the number has even increased sharply.
In January-February 2025, the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh handled 841 cases of Indonesian citizens in trouble, either walk-ins, via hotline, or upon notification from Cambodian authorities. This figure is more than three times higher than the same period last year.
Most of the cases—around 75%—were related to the involvement of Indonesian citizens in online scams. Usually, Indonesian citizens who work as scammers are lured by easy jobs, with low qualifications, but fantastic pay.
The Indonesian Ambassador to Cambodia, Dr. Santo Darmosumarto, said that his party would continue to coordinate with relevant parties in Cambodia and Indonesia to follow up on this spike in cases. At the same time, Indonesian citizens are expected to be more careful and report themselves, so that their presence in Cambodia can be monitored by the embassy.
This spike in cases is of particular concern, both to the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia and the Cambodian Government, considering the increasing trend in the last 5 years.
“In 2020, the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia only handled 56 cases of problematic Indonesian citizens. However, in 2024 the number increased drastically to 3,310 cases. This means that there has been an increase of more than 60 times,” Santo explained in his statement, Friday, March 21, 2025.
In the future, it is predicted that this number will continue to increase, along with the increasing number of Indonesian citizens living in Cambodia.
In 2024, the Cambodian Government verified that there were more than 131 thousand Indonesian citizens legally residing in Cambodia. The concentration of Indonesian citizens is spread across several cities, including Sihanoukville, Poipet, Chrey Thum, Bavet, and Phnom Penh.
Ambassador Santo, on various occasions, including through social media, appealed to Indonesian citizens to be more vigilant about job offers abroad that do not require skills or qualifications, but promise high salaries.
“If it’s too good to be true, IT IS too good to be true. Don’t be too gullible,” said Santo.
Especially for Indonesian citizens who are in the process of being protected by the Embassy and local authorities or in the process of returning home, Ambassador Santo appealed not to be easily tempted by parties who offer a fast track to return to Indonesia by asking for a fee.
“It is very unfortunate that there are individuals who use the name of the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh to deceive fellow Indonesian citizens who are in the process of returning home,” he said.
For Indonesian citizens who need immediate assistance, contact the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh via the hotline at +855 12 813 282 or come directly to the Embassy.
Ambassador Santo reminded Indonesian citizens who have been repatriated not to return to Cambodia.
“We found several cases where Indonesian citizens who we have helped repatriate have actually returned to work in Cambodia. They have become ‘recurring victims’. This makes efforts to resolve cases increasingly complicated and lengthy,” he said. (AT Network)
Follow Us at Google News and WA Channel