The Telegram messaging app has emerged as a hub for criminal activities, serving as a platform for data exchange among various illicit networks. Criminals, ranging from drug and child traffickers to cybercriminals, are increasingly utilizing Telegram to facilitate their nefarious operations.
One recent instance of cybercrime involves the distribution of hacked intimate CCTV videos, which are being sold on the platform. These videos, featuring content from bedrooms, are in high demand, with a dedicated Telegram channel named Vnexpress offering them for sale. The videos are priced at $3 per clip, and subscription options for quarterly, half-yearly, and annual plans are available at a cost-effective rate of $29.
Particularly disturbing is the demand for videos containing intimate moments from bedrooms, shedding light on the perverse interests of those purchasing such content. The Vnexpress channel, operating out of Russia, specializes in selling these compromising videos, exposing the private lives of families and businesses in Vietnam.
Notably, certain videos showcase bedroom footage of couples from countries like Canada, the United States, Australia, and Britain. The content is allegedly hacked from CCTV cameras installed in hotels and resorts, commanding prices ranging from $16 to $19 per clip.
Hackread.com, an online news resource, has highlighted that surveillance camera footage from homes in Vietnam is contributing to the content available to these criminal groups. The public is urged to refrain from installing CCTV cameras in sensitive areas like changing rooms, trial rooms, bedrooms, and bathrooms, as this footage becomes a valuable resource for criminals. Despite global prohibitions on the installation of cameras in such private spaces due to privacy concerns, it seems that individuals continue to neglect these regulations.
In light of these developments, there is a growing call for Telegram to implement stringent measures to monitor and control illicit activities on its platform. Major social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Google employ AI technology to combat the spread of various crimes, and it is hoped that Telegram will follow suit to effectively curb criminal activities within its user base.
