Phnom Penh (VNA) – Cambodia's Telecommunication Regulator of Cambodia (TRC) has urged the public to remain vigilant against scammers offering paid services claiming to “protect” user accounts and social media pages.
The TRC said scammers typically advertise such services on social media, promising to prevent users' accounts and pages from being locked, deleted or hijacked. Some even falsely claim to have direct links with platform operators or access to special technical tools to make their offers appear legitimate
The scammers seek to exploit users' fears to obtain money or collect sensitive information, including passwords, one-time passwords (OTPs) and administrator access. The TRC warned that following such instructions could result in permanent loss of accounts, financial theft or identity theft for fraudulent purposes.
The regulator advised users not to pay for account-protection services, share passwords or OTPs, or grant administrator access to strangers. Users should also avoid clicking suspicious links, enable two-factor authentication and grant administrator privileges only to trusted individuals.
The TRC stressed that account security depends on compliance with Cambodian laws and the terms of service of individual platforms, adding that paid third-party services cannot replace or guarantee such protection./.
Cambodia proposes life imprisonment for leaders of online scam networks
A 2024 report by the United States Institute of Peace estimated that illicit revenues from online scams in Cambodia could exceed 12.5 billion USD annually, equivalent to roughly half of the country’s GDP. Prime Minister Hun Manet has previously said the scam centres are seriously damaging Cambodia’s economy and international image, pledging to “clean up” the problem.
