According to a recent report from the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime, powerful crime syndicates are using Telegram as a messaging application to carry out large-scale illegal activities.
This report shows how Telegram and other encrypted platforms have changed the nature of organized crime. They allow criminal networks to exchange hacked information, cybercrime instruments without any oversight.
UNODC’s report sheds some light on Telegram’s role as a facilitator of the transfer of data stolen, including credit card numbers, passwords and browsing history across channels with no moderation.
On the site, criminal tools such as deepfake malware and data-stealing software are widely available.
Telegram is home to unlicensed crypto exchanges that provide services for money laundering.
The report cites a Chinese advertisement boasting of moving USDT worth $3 million per day. This shows the sophistication and scale of the operations.
UNODC has warned that the underground market for data is shifting from e-mail to Telegram with active sellers targeting transnational criminal groups.
Southeast Asia is a center for cybercrime
Southeast Asia is a major hub of criminal activity, driven largely by Chinese syndicates that operate from highly secured compounds with workers trafficked as staff.
The estimated annual revenue of these networks is between $27,4 billion and $35,6 billion.
The report is a response to the growing attention being paid Telegram in particular after its founder Pavel Durov was arrested in Paris, in August.
Durov is facing charges related to illegal activity, such as the spreading of illegal content.
Ses arrest has ignited a discussion about tech platforms’ responsibility in curbing criminal activities, and how to balance free speech against law enforcement.
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