A recent United Nations report reveals that criminal networks in Southeast Asia are heavily using the messaging app Telegram, significantly altering the dynamics of organized crime.
This report comes in the wake of accusations against Telegram’s CEO, Pavel Durov, who was charged in France for allegedly enabling criminal activities on the platform under a new law that lacks international precedent.
The United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) found that hacked information—including credit card details and passwords—is openly traded on Telegram, which hosts extensive channels with little oversight. The report indicates that tools for cybercrime, such as deepfake software and data-stealing malware, are readily accessible, while unregulated cryptocurrency exchanges offer money laundering services.
Read also: Elon Musk offers $47 incentive to U.S. voters for petition signatures
One ad reportedly stated, “We move 3 million USDT stolen from overseas per day,” highlighting the extensive scale of illicit transactions. The UNODC noted “strong evidence of underground data markets moving to Telegram” as vendors aim to connect with transnational organized crime groups in the region.
Southeast Asia has become a major center for a multibillion-dollar fraudulent industry, with many operations linked to Chinese syndicates. This industry is estimated to generate between $27.4 billion and $36.5 billion annually.
Durov was arrested in Paris in August for his alleged role in facilitating criminal activities on Telegram. Following his arrest, he committed to cooperating with legal authorities by providing user IP addresses and phone numbers, while also pledging to eliminate features that are misused for illegal purposes.
Benedikt Hofmann, the UNODC’s deputy representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, warned that the platform’s accessibility makes it easier for criminals to operate, increasing the risk of scams and other illicit activities that compromise consumer data. The report reveals that criminal groups are advancing their methods by integrating new technologies, such as malware and generative artificial intelligence, into their operations.
UNODC identified over ten providers of deepfake software targeting criminal entities involved in cyber-enabled fraud across Southeast Asia. In South Korea, authorities are investigating Telegram’s possible role in facilitating online sex crimes, particularly those involving deepfake pornography.
In a separate incident, a hacker utilized Telegram chatbots to leak sensitive data from Star Health, a major Indian insurer, prompting the company to pursue legal action against the platform. The leaked data included names, phone numbers, addresses, and medical diagnoses, underscoring the significant risks associated with data vulnerabilities on Telegram.