A report by the United Nations reveals that the messaging app Telegram has become a hub for "underground markets" run by criminal groups in Southeast Asia.
According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), powerful criminal organizations in Southeast Asia are heavily utilizing Telegram for large-scale illegal operations. The report highlights that the platform has triggered a significant shift in the criminal underworld, allowing organized groups to expand their illegal activities.
The report emphasizes that sensitive data such as stolen credit card information, passwords, and browser histories are openly traded on Telegram. Additionally, deepfake technologies and data-stealing software are widely sold on the platform. Unauthorized cryptocurrency exchanges also offer money laundering services through Telegram.
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Information shared in Chinese sources suggests that certain groups move up to 3 million USD in stolen cryptocurrencies daily. The report provides strong evidence of "underground markets" shifting to Telegram, targeting transnational organized crime groups based in Southeast Asia.
UNODC further notes that Southeast Asia has become a central hub for global fraud schemes, with organizations in the region generating between $27.4 billion and $36.5 billion annually.
Pavel Durov, the Russian-born founder of Telegram, was arrested in Paris in August, facing charges related to allowing criminal activity on the platform. After being released on bail, Durov announced that Telegram would comply with legal requests from authorities and provide users’ IP addresses and phone numbers.
UNODC also mentions that crime syndicates in the region are incorporating new technologies such as deepfake and AI tools into their fraud operations. Over 10 deepfake software programs used by Southeast Asian cybercriminal groups have been identified.
