A Telegram bot has been identified as a facilitator for selling sensitive personal information of Indian users to interested buyers. According to reports, this bot operates autonomously and disseminates data including names, addresses, paternal details, and identification numbers such as Aadhaar, Pan Card, and Voter ID. Users seeking to access another individual’s full profile can do so by providing a mobile number, with the service starting at a fee of Rs. 99.
Telegram Bot Charges Rs. 4,999 for Bulk Plans
The discovery of the Telegram bot was made by Digit, which opted not to disclose the bot’s name to prevent further misuse. The information about its existence came from a tip-off. Bots on Telegram, which can be created by anyone, are utilized for various purposes, such as sending automated messages, linking to databases, and managing financial transactions.
This particular bot is said to have been designed for delivering sensitive user data based on mobile numbers. Prior to providing service, users are prompted to purchase a subscription plan, priced between Rs. 99 for basic access and Rs. 4,999 for bulk queries.
Once a user has purchased a plan, they can submit a 10-digit mobile number. Reports indicate that the bot can generate a comprehensive profile associated with that number within two seconds. The retrieved data typically includes the individual’s name, an alternate contact number, address, and voter ID, along with Aadhaar and Pan Card numbers available as well.
To validate the information supplied by the bot, the publication utilized staff members’ mobile numbers and confirmed that the data was not only accurate but also recent. In some cases, the information dated back three to four years.
While it remains unclear how the hackers behind the bot obtained this data, it is suspected that it may have resulted from various data breaches over the years. The presence of such Telegram bots within a publicly accessible application raises serious concerns about potential misuse for identity theft, online scams, and acts of stalking and harassment.
