PHNOM PENH, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The International Conference on Combating Online Scams (ICCOS) concluded in Cambodia on Thursday with the adoption of the Phnom Penh Declaration, cementing a global commitment to disrupting criminal networks and eradicating online fraud.
The two-day conference drew representatives from governments, law enforcement agencies, international organizations, financial institutions, tech and telecom firms, and think tanks across more than 20 countries.
The declaration established 11 commitments to strengthen international cooperation against online scam networks and the transnational criminal activities associated with them.
"The commitments cover coordinated enforcement, disruption of illegal financial flows, asset recovery, victim protection, and measures to dismantle scam compounds and associated infrastructure," said a press release issued at the conclusion of the conference.
Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Neth Savoeun, who serves as vice chairman of the country's Commission on Combating Online Scams, said that the declaration provides a vital roadmap for unified action.
"The fight against online scams cannot be successfully achieved by any single nation; it requires international cooperation at all levels," he said during the closing ceremony.
He added that as the host nation, Cambodia expects further endorsements of the Phnom Penh Declaration from additional countries and global bodies in the coming days.
Path Kosal, a secretary of state at the Office of the Council of Ministers and an ICCOS organizing committee member, echoed the call for solidarity in his closing summary report.
"The core message of this conference is clear: online scams have evolved into a severe transnational crime and a governance challenge. No single country, institution, or sector can tackle this cross-border threat alone," he said.
"Therefore, timely, effective, and collective actions require both stronger national capacity and stronger regional and global cooperation," he added. ■