The number of Indonesian citizens who reported increased to 2,492 people, the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh accelerated the repatriation process to the country.

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

JAKARTA - The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Phnom Penh, Cambodia has accelerated efforts to repatriate Indonesian citizens (WNI) related to online fraud activities, as the number continues to increase in line with the enforcement of Cambodian authorities against online fraud centers (scam centers).

In his statement, the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh revealed that from January 16 to January 26 at 23:00 local time, the number of Indonesian citizens who reported to the police reached 2,493 people.

The Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh said that it continued to take intensive handling measures, including data collection, case assessment, and issuance of a Provisional Travel Document (SPLP) for Indonesian citizens who do not have travel documents.

A number of Indonesian citizens who have travel documents and are not subject to immigration fines have reportedly returned to Indonesia independently, the Indonesian Embassy said in a statement quoted on Tuesday (27/1).

"And for those who have been facilitated in the creation of temporary travel documents and applications for immigration fines, it is reported that they have purchased tickets independently. For example, 46 Indonesian citizens who will return home on January 30, 2026," continued the Indonesian Embassy.

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

Last Saturday, the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh received a team of assistance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Immigration and Correction of the Republic of Indonesia, to help conduct data collection, case assessment, and issuance of a Provisional Travel Document (SPLP) for Indonesian citizens who do not have travel documents.

Previously, the Indonesian Ambassador to Cambodia Santo Darmosumarto said that as the Cambodian authorities increased their efforts to tackle online scams in recent years, the efforts were intensified since January 16.

"Recently, there have been arrests of several masterminds and main managers of scam centers," said Ambassador Santo in an online press statement last week.

With the arrest, many scam centers closed down their operations and foreign nationals working at these places were allowed to leave.

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

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

"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 Ambassador of Santo confirmed that the surge in Indonesian citizens who reported this was not a new recruit, even some of them had repeatedly come to Cambodia.

"This is not because of new recruits, but those who have been there, they were raided in terms of it. That's why there are many. Some are only a month in Cambodia, some have been there for three months, some for a year, two years, three years. Some have just come to Cambodia, some have come twice and this morning, some have come to Cambodia three times," said the Indonesian Ambassador.

For comparison, the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh said that throughout last year, it handled 5,006 cases of Indonesian citizens.

The Indonesian Embassy appeals to Indonesian citizens to be patient in following all the ongoing processes. Meanwhile, for Indonesian citizens who have passports or have been facilitated in making SPLP, to immediately prepare their return to Indonesia independently.

The Indonesian Embassy also urged the families of Indonesian citizens in the country to follow the development of the situation from trusted media channels as well as the daily media releases and social media of the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh.

So that the Indonesian families are also careful of fraud in the name of the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh in the process of returning their relatives in Cambodia.