The dark side of instant messaging apps: How to identify and avoid cyber traps | Technology News
Sandeep, 32, never imagined that a quest for easy money would cost him over Rs 85,000. He was added to a Telegram channel where a member claimed he could earn money by completing tasks assigned in the group. Initially, he received Amazon product links, and after submitting screenshots of his reviews, money was credited to his bank account. Encouraged by these small earnings, he joined other groups, where he was directed to send money through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). For a while, the scheme seemed profitable—sending Rs 3,000 earned him Rs 3,900. But soon, the requests for deposits increased, and when Sandeep stopped receiving payments, he realised he had been scammed.
In Noida, a man lost Rs 51.63 lakh in just five days after receiving a WhatsApp message about an easy online job. Initially, small earnings lured him into a Telegram group for cryptocurrency investments. Fraudsters, posing as financial experts, convinced him to invest progressively larger amounts. To build trust, scammers created a fake investment portfolio showing Rs 60 lakh in profits. But when he tried to withdraw his earnings, they demanded additional payments. By the time he realised the fraud, he had made 32 transactions, losing Rs 51.63 lakh.
Earlier this month, Mumbai Police uncovered a cyber racket with international links, where victims were tricked into investing in the stock market through fraudulent software. The entire operation took place on Telegram.
Telegram, a hub for cybercrime
Telegram, a cloud-based, cross-platform, social media and instant messaging service, has come under scrutiny for its lax policies on digital crimes. The platform’s CEO, Pavel Durov, was detained in France last year over allegations of inadequate action against cybercriminals. With its end-to-end encryption, self-destructing messages, and anonymity, Telegram, which has nearly a billion users, has become a haven for scammers.
The Safe Side explores the dangers of Telegram and how users can protect themselves.
“Telegram has become a hotspot for financial fraud. Its high level of anonymity makes it difficult to trace scammers. Fraud amounts can range into crores, and there is no fixed pattern,” said Ankit Dev Arpan, a cyber lawyer and founder of Lex Cyber Attorneys.
According to Shonal, cybercrime expert and strategist, “Telegram’s encryption and self-destructing messages make it a breeding ground for cybercrime, from fake investments to blackmail. Criminals can erase evidence and vanish without a trace. The only defence is to stay vigilant, verify sources, and report suspicious activity.”
Widespread scams on Telegram:
According to Arpan, some rampant scams on Telegram are the following:
📌 Task-based investment scams: Scammers send WhatsApp messages offering work-from-home jobs, such as subscribing to YouTube channels or writing reviews, paying Rs 50 per task. After earning an initial Rs 150, users are directed to a Telegram group for higher-paying tasks. Eventually, they are asked to deposit money (starting from Rs 1,000) for a “merchant task,” where they see fake profits. Encouraged by doctored payment proofs, victims invest more—sometimes lakhs—only to be blocked when they deposit large sums.
📌 Cryptocurrency and trading scams: Fraudsters pose as investment advisors, using fake company names and forged documents. Victims are directed to download fake trading apps that display manipulated profits. Encouraged to invest more, users eventually lose everything. A colonel living in Bhopal losing Rs 1.8 crore in a Telegram crypto scam and a school employee losing Rs 95.5 lakh in a fraudulent stock trading scheme on Telegram are recent examples.
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📌 Phishing and blackmail scams: Victims receive a message with a malicious link, such as “Are you in this video?” Clicking on it hacks their Telegram account, spreading the scam further. Other scams involve blackmail threats, where scammers claim to have leaked private content and demand ransom.
📌 Fake job listing scams: Scammers post fake job listings and offers on Telegram to mislead you into sharing personal information.
📌 Romance scams: If someone you met on Telegram asks for money or gifts, you may be dealing with a romance scammer. These scammers gain your trust, and then demand money by faking emergencies.
Red flags to watch for on Telegram:
Arpan and Shonal listed some signs you should watch out for while using Telegram.
📌 Unrealistic payments for simple tasks: In India, bot likes cost less than Re 1, and real likes and reviews from Google and Meta Advertisements cost around Rs 5. If someone offers Rs 50 for a like or a follow, it’s likely to be a scam.
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📌 Promise of high returns: The stock market operates on fixed hours, with updates from official media and trading platforms. No legitimate platform will double your money in a day.
📌 Fake and malicious apps: Before downloading an application via an external link, check its upload date (recently uploaded applications can be suspicious), and check the number of downloads. A low number is a red flag.
📌 Be cautious of fake proofs: Be cautious of messages showing fake payment screenshots as proof of earnings. Legitimate investments offer a return of 1-10 per cent, sometimes even negative. If you are trading through platforms, always verify documents like GST certificates or incorporation details on official websites.
Seek advice: Before investing in any scheme via platforms like Telegram, seek advice from experts and trusted people.
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What to do if you’re scammed?
Ankit listed a few steps to take immediately after realising you have been scammed:
📌 Report immediately: Call 1930 or file a complaint on the cybercrime portal as soon as possible. Delays reduce the chances of recovering your money.
📌 Provide complete details: Include all transaction details, screenshots, and any evidence to help authorities track the money trail. The more information you provide, the better the chances of tracing the scammer.
📌 Follow up: Regularly check the status of your complaint. Quick action and persistence can sometimes lead to the recovery or freezing of funds.
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📌 Take legal action: If your money is held, consult a lawyer immediately and apply for a court order to prevent further movement of funds.
“Telegram lacks essential security features like user registration details and activity logs. When law enforcement requests user information, group admin details, or chat history, the platform does not provide access, making it a safe haven for cybercriminals under the guise of privacy,” Arpan said.
He also added, “The absence of keyword blockers also allows numerous groups to thrive, spreading explicit content and even facilitating illegal activities like exam paper leaks and movie piracy. Without stricter controls, Telegram continues to be exploited for cybercrime.
Regardless of the pitfalls, Telegram is hugely popular owing to its strong privacy features, including end-to-end encryption, secret chats, and self-destructing messages. The platform offers cloud storage which allows users to access messages and media from any device without losing data. Users can share large files of up to 2GB in various formats, and it supports large groups of up to 2,00,000 members and broadcast channels for one-way communication to unlimited subscribers.
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Just with any instant messaging platform, user discretion is important. A scammer can swindle a user regardless of the platform, however, being cognizant and cautious with messages from unknown senders is paramount.
The Safe Side
As the world evolves, the digital landscape does too, bringing new opportunities—and new risks. Scammers are becoming more sophisticated, exploiting vulnerabilities to their advantage. In our special feature series, we delve into the latest cybercrime trends and provide practical tips to help you stay informed, secure, and vigilant online.
