There is “strong evidence of underground data markets moving to Telegram and vendors actively looking to target transnational organized crime groups based in Southeast Asia,” the report said.
Southeast Asia has emerged as a major hub for a multibillion-dollar industry that targets victims across the world with fraudulent schemes.
Russian-born Durov was arrested in Paris in August and charged with allowing criminal activity on the platform including the spread of sexual images of children.
Benedikt Hofmann, UNODC’s deputy representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, said the app was an easily navigable environment for criminals.
“For consumers, this means their data is at a higher risk of being fed into scams or other criminal activity than ever before,” he told Reuters.
Persons:
Pavel Durov, UNODC, Durov, Benedikt Hofmann, UNODC’s, ”
Organizations:
—, United Nations, United Nations Office, Drugs, Southeast, Reuters, Star Health
Locations:
Bangkok, Thailand, Southeast Asia, France, Russian, Paris, ”, Asia, South Korea