SABACIREBON – Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Phnom Penh (Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh) reported a significant increase in the number of Indonesian citizens (WNI) requesting assistance to return to their homeland amidst widespread disclosure of online fraud cases in Cambodia.
As of May 5 2026, 8,002 Indonesian citizens have submitted requests for repatriation facilitation. Of this number, around 3,348 people have been successfully repatriated to Indonesia through embassy coordination.
In its official statement, the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh revealed that the majority of Indonesian citizens who came were individuals who had left online fraud networks.
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Since mid-April 2026, the number of reports has increased sharply, with an average of more than 100 people reporting every day. In fact, in one day, May 5 to be precise, the number of reporters reached 180 people.
This increase cannot be separated from the Cambodian government’s firm steps in eradicating online fraud syndicates after the celebration Khmer New Year. This operation was expanded to a number of areas previously rarely touched by law enforcement, including border areas Poipetwhich is known as one of the concentration locations for Indonesian citizens.
The Indonesian Embassy also noted various obstacles faced by Indonesian citizens, such as not having a passport, overstay status, and limited costs to return to Indonesia. To overcome this, the embassy continues to coordinate with local authorities to obtain relief, including eliminating overstay fines.
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So far, the Cambodian government has agreed to waive overstay fines for 4,677 Indonesian citizens, so that the repatriation process can be accelerated.
However, the surge in the number of reporters has caused the Indonesian Embassy’s temporary shelter capacity to reach its maximum limit. As a result, some Indonesian citizens have to wait their turn before they can be facilitated further.
The Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh estimates that the number of requests for assistance will continue to increase as operations continue to curb online fraud networks in various regions of Cambodia.
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For this reason, the embassy urges Indonesian citizens who have obtained travel documents and administrative approval to immediately purchase return tickets. This step is important to open up opportunities for other Indonesian citizens who are still waiting for the process.
Apart from that, Indonesian citizens who have returned to Indonesia are reminded not to get involved in similar illegal activities abroad again.***
