On February 21, 2025, Cambodian authorities arrested two suspects accused of using the name of prominent politician Hun Sen to defraud victims via the social media platform Telegram. The suspects are alleged to have swindled a total of US$180,000 from multiple individuals by falsely claiming their operations were endorsed by Hun Sen, the President of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and the President of the Cambodian Senate.
The investigation, launched by Cambodia’s Anti-Cyber Crime Department on February 16, uncovered a fraud scheme in which the perpetrators promised high returns on investments in a short time. The scammers created a fake Telegram account that mimicked Hun Sen’s official channel to appear credible and solicit investments.
With the approval of Phnom Penh Municipal Court prosecutors, authorities detained two suspects: a woman working at a beauty salon and a man employed as a parking lot security guard at a shopping center. The identities of the suspects have not been disclosed, as they remain under investigation.
Chea Pov, Director of the Anti-Cyber Crime Department, stated that the suspects are facing charges of fraud and facilitating financial transactions. They have been transferred to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court for legal proceedings. Pov also highlighted that, due to the absence of a dedicated law for digital crimes in Cambodia, the criminal code is being used to address such cases.
On January 20, the Anti-Cyber Crime Department had issued a warning about a rise in scams on platforms like Telegram and Facebook. Fraudulent messages were offering fake rewards, urging users to act quickly before a prize presentation ceremony ended. These scams often required victims to make upfront payments, promising rewards that never materialized, leaving many victims out of pocket and in some cases, with compromised financial information.
As the investigation continues, authorities are working to ensure the suspects are held accountable and preventing further harm to potential victims.
