The Case Of Troubled Indonesian Citizens In Cambodia Soared Sharply Earlier This Year, Ambassador Santo: Don't Easily Believe In Job Offers

Repatriation of Indonesian citizens from Cambodia. (Source: Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Ambassador to Cambodia, Dr. Santo Darmosumarto asked Indonesian citizens (WNI) not to easily believe in work offers abroad, when the number of problematic Indonesian citizens in the country jumped sharply earlier this year.

Throughout January-February 2025, the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh has handled 841 cases of troubled Indonesian citizens, either walking-in, via hotline, or on notifications from Cambodian officials.

"The figure is a record, more than three times compared to the same period last year," said the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh in a statement on Friday, March 21.

Most cases, around 75 percent, are related to the involvement of Indonesian citizens in online scams. Usually Indonesian citizens who work as scammers are lured by easy jobs, with low qualifications, but fantastic payments.

The Indonesian Ambassador to Cambodia, Dr. Santo Darmosumarto, said that the Indonesian Embassy would continue to coordinate with related parties in Cambodia and in the country to follow up on this spike in cases.

At the same time, Indonesian citizens are expected to be more careful and report themselves, so that their presence in Cambodia is monitored by the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh.

This spike in cases has become a special concern, both by the Indonesian Embassy and the Cambodian Government, considering the upward trend in the last 5 years.

"In 2020, the Indonesian Embassy only handled 56 cases of troubled Indonesian citizens. However, in 2024 the number increased dramatically to 3,310 cases. This means that there has been an increase of more than 60 times," explained Ambassador Santo.

In the future, it is predicted that this number will continue to increase, along with the increasing number of Indonesian citizens living in Cambodia.

In 2024, the Cambodian Government will legally verify that there are more than 131 thousand Indonesian citizens living in Cambodia. The concentration of Indonesian citizens is found in the cities of Sihanoukville, Poipet, Chrey Thum, Bavet and Phnom Penh.

Ambassador Santo, on various occasions, including through social media, appealed to Indonesian citizens to be more alert to job offers abroad that do not require skills or qualifications, but promise high salaries.

"If it's too good to be true, the IT is too good to be true. Don't believe it too easily," said Ambassador Santo.

Especially for Indonesian citizens who are in the process of being protected by the Indonesian Embassy and local officials or the process of returning, Ambassador Santo appealed not to be easily tempted by parties who offer a quick route to returning to Indonesia by asking for a number of costs.

"It is very unfortunate that there are individuals acting on behalf of the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh to deceive fellow Indonesian citizens who are in the process of returning," he said.

For Indonesian citizens who need assistance, immediately contact the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh through the Indonesian citizen protection hotline at [phone] or come directly to the Indonesian Embassy.

Ambassador Santo also reminded that Indonesian citizens who had been repatriated would not return to Cambodia.

"We found several cases where the Indonesian citizen we have helped return to work in Cambodia. They have become 'victims of recurrence'. This makes the efforts to resolve cases more complicated and long," he concluded.