January 23, 2026 | 08:18 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Thousands of Indonesian nationals who fell victim to online scams in Cambodia have sought assistance at the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh.
According to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, between January 16 and 21, 2026, a total of 1,726 Indonesians escaped from various online scam operations across different regions of the country.
“In response, the Indonesian Embassy has intensified coordination with relevant agencies both in Indonesia and Cambodia,” said Indonesian Ambassador to Cambodia Santo Darmosumarto on Friday, January 23.
The Cambodian government has recently ramped up efforts to combat online fraud, leading to the closure of multiple scam syndicate operations.
By January 21, an additional 269 Indonesians arrived at the embassy, while the overall number of arrivals has gradually decreased.
On Wednesday night, Santo personally met with around 100 Indonesian nationals near the embassy to hear their concerns and explain protective measures.
He assured that the government remains committed to providing facilitation and assistance to all Indonesians in need.
Santo emphasized that none of the Indonesians who sought help were suspected victims of human trafficking.
“Based on early assessments, no Indonesian nationals are suspected to be trafficking victims, and there are no signs of physical abuse,” he said during a virtual press conference held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jakarta on Thursday, January 22.
To address the situation, the embassy has coordinated closely with Indonesian authorities, issuing Temporary Travel Documents for those without proper travel papers, providing medical assistance to vulnerable individuals, and conducting interviews to assess potential human trafficking risks.
The embassy has also liaised with Cambodian authorities to ensure the safe and orderly repatriation of the affected Indonesians through official immigration channels. Throughout 2025, the embassy in Phnom Penh handled a total of 5,008 similar cases.
Read: Indonesia Repatriates 90 Citizens From Online Scam Centers in Myanmar
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