Key institutions team up to defeat online fraudsters

Key institutions team up to defeat online fraudsters

Socheat calls on provincial authorities and armed forces to warn citizens to inspect investment opportunities carefully before spending money.

The Securities and Exchange Regulator of Cambodia (SERC), the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and the General Commissariat of National Police of the Ministry of Interior, in collaboration with the Preah Sihanouk Provincial Administration, on Monday co-organised a dissemination workshop on ‘Investor Protection and Strengthening Law Enforcement in the Securities Sector’ in Preah Sihanouk province. The joint initiative aims to train legal practitioners so they can better educate the public on secure securities investments.

The event was co-chaired by SERC Director General Sou Socheat, Member of the Preah Sihanouk Provincial Council Nop Heng, and Deputy Governor of the Preah Sihanouk Provincial Administration Em Pheap.

It was attended by provincial leaders, representatives of the Provincial Court of First Instance, representatives of the Provincial Court Prosecutor’s Office, councils, city-district governors, commune-sangkat heads, provincial chamber of commerce, specialised departments, the three armed forces, civil servants, local authorities within the jurisdiction of Preah Sihanouk province, and representatives of bank branches and microfinance institutions operating in the province.

According to a SERC press release, the workshop aimed to provide participants with in-depth knowledge and experience related to public fund mobilisation through legitimate investments in the securities sector, allowing the public to differentiate between securities investment companies with and without a legal license.

The workshop also aided participants with the knowledge to further educate peoples on fraud under high-return investment schemes, crimes using technology and financial investigation techniques, the press released added.

In his remarks, Socheat underscored how a strong securities sector accelerates Cambodia’s economic growth. By connecting public investors with businesses looking to issue stocks or bonds, the sector unlocks crucial capital for business expansion.

He praised the government’s efforts to eliminate online scams nationwide, noting that Cambodia enacted its new law on combating online scams in April 2026.

Socheat reminded participants that genuine profits come from making the right investments with properly licensed SERC entities. “There is no such thing as cash (profit) falling from the sky,” Socheat said, adding that real investment must be based on accurate business activities with actual measurable results.

“Investment that is guaranteed with high return in a short period of time without doing much work is clearly a scam,” he stressed.

He encouraged the public and investors to invest only with registered companies that received licence and operation permission from the SERC.

Socheat called for stronger collaboration from all relevant parties in the province, including the armed forces, to further inform the public to stay alert about illegal investment activities and should conduct proper inspection before their investment decision.

He urged local authorities to enforce laws swiftly and strictly against wrongdoers to stop illegal public fund mobilisation disguised as high-yield investments, which devalues citizen assets and harms the national economy.

khmertimeskh