Southeast Asian cyber gangs flourish on Telegram

Encrypted messaging app Telegram has changed the way organized crime networks operate in Southeast Asia, according to a United Nations report. Hacked credit card details and passwords, along with deepfake software, are now openly traded through the app, the UN found, adding that cyber gangs based largely in Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos defrauded people and institutions of $37 billion last year.

The findings are the latest in a series of accusations involving Telegram, whose CEO was recently arrested in France for allegedly allowing criminal activity to flourish on the platform. Following the arrest — which led to Telegram agreeing to share certain user data with law enforcement — several extremist groups have moved to a new platform, SimpleX Chat, that promises greater privacy protections, Wired reported.