The United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) recently published a report highlighting the extensive use of the messaging app Telegram by criminal networks in Southeast Asia. These groups have leveraged the platform to conduct large-scale illicit activities, including trading hacked data such as credit card details and passwords, with minimal oversight.
Telegram’s encrypted, decentralized nature makes it a popular choice for criminals, facilitating the rapid exchange of sensitive information and illegal goods. According to the UNODC report, cybercrime tools such as deepfake software, data-stealing malware, and unlicensed cryptocurrency exchanges used for money laundering are also widely available on the platform.
The scale of illegal activity on Telegram in Southeast Asia is staggering. The region has become a hub for a multibillion-dollar criminal industry, with an estimated annual revenue ranging from $27.4 billion to $36.5 billion. Much of the fraud is carried out by Chinese syndicates operating from fortified compounds, often with trafficked workers.
These criminal networks are using Telegram to target victims globally, moving large amounts of stolen funds, including millions in USDT (Tether), a cryptocurrency. The platform’s minimal moderation and vast number of channels make it a hotspot for organized crime groups seeking to operate in relative anonymity.
UN Report Exposes Telegram as a Hub for Southeast Asian Cybercrime Networks and Illicit Activities
The report also draws attention to the role of Telegram in enabling the growth of sophisticated cybercrime technologies. The app has become a space for the sale of deepfake software and other tools specifically designed to assist criminals in committing fraud.
In particular, the use of generative AI and other cutting-edge technologies has allowed these networks to innovate and expand their operations. The UNODC has identified more than 10 deepfake service providers targeting Southeast Asian criminal groups involved in cyber-enabled fraud, highlighting the increasing sophistication of these illicit activities.
This rise in illegal activity has led to significant international scrutiny of Telegram and its responsibility in preventing criminal abuse. The app’s founder, Pavel Durov, was recently arrested in France on charges related to allowing criminal activity on Telegram, including the dissemination of child sexual abuse material.
In response, Durov has promised to cooperate with authorities, including sharing user IP addresses and phone numbers when legally required and removing certain features that have been exploited for illegal purposes. This has sparked a larger debate over the balance between privacy, free speech, and the enforcement of laws on digital platforms.
Telegram’s growing role in criminal activity has also drawn attention from law enforcement agencies outside Southeast Asia. In South Korea, police are investigating whether the platform has been involved in facilitating online sex crimes, including the widespread use of deepfake pornography.
Moreover, in India, a hacker exploited Telegram chatbots to leak sensitive data from a major insurance company, triggering a lawsuit against the platform. As Telegram continues to be used for illegal activities on a massive scale, its ability to balance privacy with responsibility remains a critical issue.
