KhmerTimes-Dec 17, 2024
Prime Minister Hun Manet has ordered relevant authorities to crack down on fraudsters who exploit government projects for personal gain, such as by creating fake QR codes and websites. During the launch of the digital registration platform for the informal economy in Phnom Penh yesterday, Mr Hun Manet noted that whenever the government announces a new initiative, fraudsters often pose as government officials and demand money from people in exchange for services, despite the fact that all registration services are free of charge. He pointed out that when the government announced tax exemptions for small taxpayers, fraudsters profited by setting up fake networks to facilitate tax registration services for people. He also highlighted the growing threat of online fraud, where fraudsters create counterfeit websites resembling official government ones to deceive people into paying for public services without receiving them. “When the government announced the receipt of funds for border infrastructure projects in August, fraudsters created three fake QR codes to collect donations from citizens, directing them to their own bank accounts,” he added. Mr Hun Manet provided an example of fraudsters exploiting QR codes related to the August announcement for border infrastructure funding, tricking people into donating to fraudulent bank accounts. In August, Cambodian police detected and arrested a man who created a false QR code to divert donations intended for the Border Infrastructure Fund into his own pocket. The Prime Minister also instructed relevant authorities to work together to stop fraudsters who misuse government projects related to the registration of the informal economy. “Although these are small-scale fraudulent acts, they undermine public trust in the government,” the Premier said. Read more at: https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501609258/pm-orders-crackdown-on-fraudsters-who-exploit-govt-projects/#google_vignette
