UK and Cambodia sign agreement to dismantle online scam centres

The United Kingdom and Cambodia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to dismantle illegal online scam centres. The agreement, signed on September 23, 2026, enables joint operations to target criminal networks that use sophisticated tactics, such as fake romantic relationships, to defraud victims. These centres often involve human trafficking, where foreign nationals are forced to conduct fraud under threat of violence.

Under the new agreement, authorities from both nations will increase data sharing and coordinate activities to bring perpetrators to justice. The UK will also provide capacity-building support to Cambodian law enforcement through training in digital forensics, cyber investigations, and investigative procedures. Both governments will collaborate through the Global Fraud Task Force, a joint initiative between the UK and Interpol.

Additionally, at the United Nations Crime Congress in Abu Dhabi, UK Minister Alex Davies-Jones pledged financial support between 2026 and 2031 to dismantle transnational scam compounds across Southeast Asia. The UK is also investing £1.5 million in initiatives to counter organized crime and remains committed to the UNODC’s Global Programme on Implementing the Organized Crime Convention.