Nearly 1,000 Indonesian Citizens Who Left the Online Scam Syndicate Will Return in Stages from Cambodia

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh continues to increase efforts to repatriate Indonesian citizens who have reported themselves after leaving online scam centers (online scams) in Cambodia, which has so far reached 4,000 people.

Thousands of Indonesian citizens have reported to the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh in waves since last month, in line with the increased enforcement efforts against online scam syndicates by the Cambodian government since January 15.

Acting Director of Indonesian Protection of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Heni Hamidah, said that in the period from January 16 to February 15, 2026, 4,254 Indonesian citizens reported to the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh and requested facilitation for repatriation to their homeland.

"The number of Indonesian citizens handled by the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh in the past month has increased by 83 percent from the number handled throughout last year which reached 5,088 people," said Heni in a press statement in Jakarta, Thursday (19/2).

From the initial assessment of the Indonesian Embassy in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of 3,917 people, continued Heni, no Indonesian citizens were found to be victims of human trafficking crimes (TPPO). On the other hand, many WNi admitted their involvement in illegal activities, including online fraud.

This situation is not only experienced by Indonesia, but also many other countries. Many foreign nationals who work in scam centers are flocking to return to their home countries.

"Many are looking for a mechanism to return to their country, including Indonesian citizens," explained the Indonesian Ambassador to Cambodia Santo Darmosumarto regarding the surge in Indonesian citizens who came to report to the Indonesian Embassy some time ago.

"This is massive, not just Indonesia. There are (workers from scam centers) from China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Myanmar, Pakistan, India, even from Japan, South Korea, to unpredictable countries like Turkey," he said.

The ambassador said that this scam center is located in Phnom Penh, around Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, Kampot to Mondulkiri which is closer to Vietnam.

"The Cambodian government itself has asked all foreign representatives to immediately repatriate their citizens who are suspected of being involved in online fraud activities," said Heni.

He explained that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had coordinated with relevant ministries and institutions to explore several options for accelerating the repatriation of Indonesian citizens who were still in Cambodia, "and continue to encourage the law enforcement process in the country for all Indonesian citizens of the former online fraud syndicate."

"Until February 16, the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh has issued 1,427 Letters of Travel for Passport (SPLP), because most of the Indonesian citizens (who reported) do not have passports. Then 2,007 Indonesian citizens received immigration fines from Cambodian Immigration, and 270 Indonesian citizens have been facilitated by the Indonesian Embassy to return independently," said Heni.

"Then 763 people, this as of yesterday, this morning I checked with the Ambassador, there were almost a thousand people who had tickets to return independently, they will return gradually from February 16 to March 4, 2026," he continued.

"And 1,200 people are currently still in temporary shelters coordinated by the Indonesian Embassy and the local government," said Heni.