The Case Of Troubled Indonesian Citizens In Cambodia Rose 174 Percent, Ambassador Santo: Needs Improvement In Education And Literacy

Handling the case of 104 Indonesian citizens related to online scams in Bavet on January 30. (Source: Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh)

JAKARTA - The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) Phnom Penh handled 1,301 problematic Indonesian citizens in Cambodia within the first three months of 2025.

This figure increased 174 percent compared to the same period last year, or the average Indonesian Embassy handled around 20-25 new cases every working day.

Of the total cases handled, 1,112 cases or 85 percent involved Indonesian citizens related to online fraud or online scams.

When compared to the same period last year, the number of Indonesian citizens involved in online fraud rose 263 percent, from 306 cases to 1,112.

While the rest are related to civil, employment, and immigration issues from various business and industrial sectors.

Based on information from Cambodia Immigration, there are more than 131 thousand Indonesian citizens who live and work legally in Cambodia in 2024.

The Indonesian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia, Santo Darmosumarto, explained that many Indonesian citizens involved in the online scam activity were already in Cambodia for more than 6 (six) months.

"As a result, even though there has been an appeal from the Government, although the news in the media is quite massive and cases often go viral on social media, it turns out that there are still many Indonesian citizens who are lulled by misleading job offers, which promises high salaries, easy work, good facilities, and minimal requirements," said Ambassador Santo in a statement from the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh, Thursday, April 24.

Ambassador Santo reiterated the importance for the Indonesian people to be more careful and wiser in finding and accepting job offers abroad.

"The Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh will strengthen coordination with relevant agencies in the country to encourage efforts to prevent, control, and take action, especially in the case of troubled Indonesian citizens in Cambodia. Digital education and literacy are needed so that Indonesian citizens avoid the trap of recruiting illegal lockers and online crimes that harm many parties," explained Ambassador Santo.

Among the cases handled by the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh, 28 cases of Indonesian citizens died. This figure is up 75 percent compared to the same period last year.

Based on police reports and hospitals in Cambodia, the main causes of death of Indonesian citizens include heart disease and stroke (11 cases/39 percent); diabetes and kidney failure/lifer (5 cases/18 percent); cancer, epilepsy, dengue and other internic disorders (4 cases/14 percent); HIV, AIDS, and sexually transmitted diseases (3 cases/11 percent); accidents, including traffic accidents (3 cases 11 percent); as well as tuberculosis and lung disease (2 cases/7 percent).