Asian Crime Gangs Exploit Telegram: A Growing Threat
Crime gangs in Southeast Asia are increasingly using Telegram to traffic personal data such as credit card numbers, passwords, browsing histories, and more, according to a UN report. The report also mentions recent legal actions against Telegram founder Pavel Durov, initiated by French authorities.
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Crime gangs in Southeast Asia are increasingly using Telegram to traffic personal data such as credit card numbers, passwords, browsing histories, and more, according to a UN report. The report also mentions recent legal actions against Telegram founder Pavel Durov, initiated by French authorities.
These criminal groups use private Telegram channels to spread deepfake creation tools, malware, and apps designed to steal funds, including cryptocurrency. Unregulated and illegal crypto exchanges, often serving as money laundering hubs, are thriving on the platform, experts warn.
Deepfake mentions in Telegram underground channels during 2024. Source: Official UN Report.
Many of the groups involved are Chinese crime syndicates linked to human trafficking, reportedly generating up to $36 billion annually from these activities. Benedikt Hofmann, Deputy Representative of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for the region, confirmed that Telegram has become a key tool for criminals.
For consumers, this means their data is at a higher risk of being fed into scams or other criminal activity than ever before,
Hoffmann added.
Following the recent arrest, Telegram founder Pavel Durov promised to intensify efforts against global scams and criminal activity. He has rolled out updates to the app and revised its data-sharing policy. Under the new guidelines, Telegram will provide law enforcement with IP addresses and phone numbers upon legal request, expanding these measures beyond terrorism cases to include any violation of the platform’s terms of service.
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