Growing concern over rise in scams, criminal activity on Telegram app

Sun Xueling urges platform to tighten user verification measures, usage of chat groups

- David Sun Crime Correspondent and Andrew Wong

Scams and other criminal activity on Telegram are extremely concerning, with scammers adding unsuspecting victims to chat groups to cheat them.

Minister of State for Home Affairs Sun Xueling said this on Oct 21 at the Global Anti-Scam Summit Asia 2024 at Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre.

She said scammers have pivoted to online platforms, with Telegram emerging as a platform of concern.

“Specifically, we have observed that scammers are creating and adding unsuspecting victims into channels and chat groups on Telegram, and deceiving them into parting with their monies,” she added.

In the first half of 2024, the number of scam cases reported on Telegram spiked by 137 per cent, compared with the same period in 2023.

Common scam types perpetrated on Telegram include investment scams and job scams.

Ms Sun added that criminal activities on Telegram are not limited to scams.

A recent report by the United Nations found that criminal networks and syndicates used Telegram extensively to conduct large-scale illicit activities.

Ms Sun said: “These include the sale of hacked data, including credit card details and passwords, as well as data-stealing malware on Telegram channels. This is extremely concerning.”

The UN report was among the latest allegations to be levied against the app since France charged Telegram boss Pavel Durov with allowing criminal activity on the platform.

The summit is organised by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (Gasa) and ends on Oct 22.