Phnom Penh, Oct 18 (NationPress) Cambodia has expelled 64 individuals suspected of participating in online scams from South Korea, including five women, according to a statement released by Cambodia's Ad-Hoc Committee to Combat Online Scams on Saturday.

The suspects were sent back to their home country via Techo International Airport located in southern Kandal province. The announcement indicated that these individuals would face legal proceedings upon their return to South Korea.

"Their deportation was initiated after authorities determined their involvement in online fraud activities," the statement elaborated.

This incident marks not the first instance of the Southeast Asian nation returning South Korean citizens; previous deportations included a total of 180 South Koreans.

Cambodia has launched a significant nationwide initiative aimed at combating cyber scam networks, focusing on preserving security, public order, and social safety.

As reported by Cambodia's Ad-Hoc Committee to Combat Online Scams, the country has apprehended 3,455 suspects from 20 different nationalities linked to online scams over the past four months, according to Xinhua news agency.

Online scams involve deceptive practices on the internet designed to steal money or personal information. Common tactics include phishing, which uses fake emails or websites to trick victims into disclosing sensitive data, as well as various social engineering schemes like romance scams, fraudulent job offers, and tech support scams. To safeguard yourself, avoid sharing personal information, be cautious of unsolicited messages or offers that seem too good to be true, and utilize strong, unique passwords.

On Thursday, Cambodia committed to addressing the issue of online fraud with South Korea, pledging to strengthen their cooperative efforts.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet held discussions with South Korean Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Ji-na in Phnom Penh concerning strategies to combat organized violent crime in Cambodia, especially following the death of a South Korean university student who was tortured by criminal groups.

“We also talked about collaborative efforts in tackling transnational crimes, particularly online scams, underscoring that the cooperation between Cambodian and Korean authorities has been fruitful over the years,” Hun Manet shared on the social media platform, X.

The Prime Minister emphasized that both nations will continue to enhance collaboration “to effectively prevent, suppress, and combat online scams, contributing to the maintenance of peace, public order, and social security.”

Park Min-ho, a 22-year-old South Korean student, was discovered deceased in August in Kampot province after enduring torture from criminals. Additionally, a South Korean woman was found dead on October 7 in Vietnam, close to the Cambodian border.

During her meeting with the Cambodian Prime Minister, Kim expressed her “strong regret” regarding the rise of online job scams targeting South Koreans in Cambodia, advocating for cooperative efforts to eradicate this crime, as reported by Yonhap News.