Organised criminal networks in Southeast Asia are increasingly using the messaging app Telegram to facilitate large-scale illicit activities, according to a United Nations report released yesterday. The report by the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) highlights how the platform has become a hub for cybercriminals, offering tools for cybercrime, money laundering services, and the illegal trade of hacked data.
Telegram, known for its encrypted messaging capabilities and vast user base, has been under scrutiny for its role in enabling criminal activities. The report states that hacked data, including credit card details, passwords, and browser history, are openly traded on the app’s sprawling and largely unmoderated channels. Tools for cybercrime, such as deepfake software used for fraud and data-stealing malware, are also sold openly. In addition, unlicensed cryptocurrency exchanges operating on the app offer services to launder money for criminal groups.
“We move 3 million USDT stolen from overseas per day,” one advertisement on the platform reportedly stated in Chinese, according to the UNODC.
The report underscores the growing evidence that underground data markets are shifting to Telegram, with vendors targeting transnational organised crime groups, particularly in Southeast Asia. The region has emerged as a significant hub for a multibillion-dollar industry that preys on victims around the world through various fraudulent schemes.
Many of these operations are run by Chinese syndicates, operating from fortified compounds staffed by trafficked workers. The industry, according to the UNODC, generates between $27.4 billion and $36.5 billion annually.
Global Scrutiny on Telegram’s Role in Crime
This latest UN report adds to the mounting allegations against Telegram and its founder, Pavel Durov, who was charged in France under a new, stringent law. French authorities have accused Durov of allowing criminal activities to proliferate on his platform, including the distribution of illegal content such as child sexual abuse material.
The case has sparked global debate over the responsibilities of app providers in curbing illegal activities while balancing freedom of speech. Durov, a Russian-born entrepreneur, was arrested in Paris in August and charged with permitting criminal operations on the app. He is currently out on bail but has since pledged to cooperate with legal authorities by providing user IP addresses and phone numbers upon request. Additionally, Durov stated that Telegram would remove features that have been exploited for illegal purposes.
Despite Durov’s pledges, the UNODC report paints a grim picture of the scale of criminal activity being conducted on Telegram. “For consumers, this means their data is at a higher risk of being fed into scams or other criminal activity than ever before,” said Benedikt Hofmann, UNODC’s deputy representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
Southeast Asia: A Cybercrime Hotspot
Southeast Asia has become a central point for cyber-enabled fraud, with many organised crime groups using sophisticated technology to enhance their operations. The UNODC report noted that these groups have adopted new business models and technologies, including malware, generative artificial intelligence, and deepfake software, to further their criminal enterprises.
The UNODC identified more than 10 providers of deepfake software specifically targeting cybercrime groups in Southeast Asia. Deepfake technology, which uses artificial intelligence to create hyper-realistic fake videos or images, has become a powerful tool for fraudsters.
Elsewhere in Asia, South Korean authorities have launched an investigation into Telegram’s role in facilitating online sex crimes. The country is reportedly the most targeted nation by deepfake pornography.
In another high-profile case, Reuters reported that a hacker used chatbots on Telegram to leak sensitive data from Indian insurer Star Health. The hacker accessed policy and claims documents containing personal information, prompting the insurer to file a lawsuit against Telegram.
With nearly one billion users worldwide, Telegram’s role as a communication platform has grown significantly, but so too has its misuse by criminal groups. As regulatory scrutiny intensifies, the platform’s future as a haven for illicit activities remains uncertain.
Organised criminal networks in Southeast Asia are increasingly using the messaging app Telegram to facilitate large-scale illicit activities, according to a United Nations report released yesterday. The report by the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) highlights how the platform has become a hub for cybercriminals, offering tools for cybercrime, money laundering services, and the illegal trade of hacked data.
Telegram, known for its encrypted messaging capabilities and vast user base, has been under scrutiny for its role in enabling criminal activities. The report states that hacked data, including credit card details, passwords, and browser history, are openly traded on the app’s sprawling and largely unmoderated channels. Tools for cybercrime, such as deepfake software used for fraud and data-stealing malware, are also sold openly. In addition, unlicensed cryptocurrency exchanges operating on the app offer services to launder money for criminal groups.
“We move 3 million USDT stolen from overseas per day,” one advertisement on the platform reportedly stated in Chinese, according to the UNODC.
The report underscores the growing evidence that underground data markets are shifting to Telegram, with vendors targeting transnational organised crime groups, particularly in Southeast Asia. The region has emerged as a significant hub for a multibillion-dollar industry that preys on victims around the world through various fraudulent schemes.
Many of these operations are run by Chinese syndicates, operating from fortified compounds staffed by trafficked workers. The industry, according to the UNODC, generates between $27.4 billion and $36.5 billion annually.
Global Scrutiny on Telegram’s Role in Crime
This latest UN report adds to the mounting allegations against Telegram and its founder, Pavel Durov, who was charged in France under a new, stringent law. French authorities have accused Durov of allowing criminal activities to proliferate on his platform, including the distribution of illegal content such as child sexual abuse material.
The case has sparked global debate over the responsibilities of app providers in curbing illegal activities while balancing freedom of speech. Durov, a Russian-born entrepreneur, was arrested in Paris in August and charged with permitting criminal operations on the app. He is currently out on bail but has since pledged to cooperate with legal authorities by providing user IP addresses and phone numbers upon request. Additionally, Durov stated that Telegram would remove features that have been exploited for illegal purposes.
Despite Durov’s pledges, the UNODC report paints a grim picture of the scale of criminal activity being conducted on Telegram. “For consumers, this means their data is at a higher risk of being fed into scams or other criminal activity than ever before,” said Benedikt Hofmann, UNODC’s deputy representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
Southeast Asia: A Cybercrime Hotspot
Southeast Asia has become a central point for cyber-enabled fraud, with many organised crime groups using sophisticated technology to enhance their operations. The UNODC report noted that these groups have adopted new business models and technologies, including malware, generative artificial intelligence, and deepfake software, to further their criminal enterprises.
The UNODC identified more than 10 providers of deepfake software specifically targeting cybercrime groups in Southeast Asia. Deepfake technology, which uses artificial intelligence to create hyper-realistic fake videos or images, has become a powerful tool for fraudsters.
Elsewhere in Asia, South Korean authorities have launched an investigation into Telegram’s role in facilitating online sex crimes. The country is reportedly the most targeted nation by deepfake pornography.
In another high-profile case, Reuters reported that a hacker used chatbots on Telegram to leak sensitive data from Indian insurer Star Health. The hacker accessed policy and claims documents containing personal information, prompting the insurer to file a lawsuit against Telegram.
With nearly one billion users worldwide, Telegram’s role as a communication platform has grown significantly, but so too has its misuse by criminal groups. As regulatory scrutiny intensifies, the platform’s future as a haven for illicit activities remains uncertain.