The Director of the Anti-Cybercrime Department of the Cambodian National Police, Sok Neatia, recently issued a stern warning: Although Telegram is a legitimate communication tool, its high degree of anonymity and encryption features are being abused by criminals, gradually evolving into a core tool for transnational criminal industries such as telecommunications fraud, human trafficking, and money laundering, with increasing risks.
The police pointed out that Telegram does not require real-name registration, has end-to-end encryption and closed group management functions, which are intended to protect user privacy, but also allow fraud groups to establish a "digital black market." According to investigations, multiple criminal organizations currently based in Cambodia have completely transferred core processes such as command issuance, victim manipulation, and crime training to Telegram, forming a self-contained internal network.
Recent investigations into several major cases, such as human trafficking, nude chat extortion, false investments, and online gambling money laundering, have all found Telegram playing a key role as a communication and execution platform. The police bluntly stated: "The most severely abused communication tool in Cambodia is Telegram."
The police also announced the three major communication software currently frequently used for illegal activities:
Telegram: Due to its strong anonymity and difficult supervision, it has become the preferred platform for fraud gangs;
WhatsApp: Commonly used for transnational remittance cooperation and identity transfer cover;
Facebook Messenger: Mainly used for fake friendships, romantic scams, and gaining trust.
The Cambodian authorities especially remind the public, particularly Chinese citizens, to be highly vigilant against the following risky behaviors:
Beware of so-called "high-paying part-time jobs" and "guaranteed profit" investment baits;
Do not casually click on links from unknown sources, or join unclear groups;
Think carefully when using financial functions such as the Telegram wallet;
In case of suspicious behavior, report to the police immediately and preserve relevant evidence.
It is reported that to curb the spread of such transnational crimes, Cambodia is conducting transnational joint law enforcement with countries such as China, Thailand, and Singapore. Relevant departments are tracking Telegram accounts related to fraud cases and urging the platform to cooperate in removing illegal content and shutting down violating groups. Since 2024, more than 1200 individuals involved in telecommunications fraud have been repatriated through international cooperation, the vast majority of whom are Chinese suspects.
The police emphasize that Telegram itself is not illegal software, but it must not become a haven for criminal groups. To curb the spread of such crimes, in addition to government law enforcement, the general public needs to have sufficient discernment and preventive awareness to jointly block the "digital entrance" of the scam chain.
