Telegram Bot Selling User Data: A Threat to Privacy

Concerns about data security have been amplified by a new report exposing a Telegram bot that sells users’ personal information. This bot, which was discovered due to a tip provided to Digit, offers sensitive details about Indian users, including names, parental information, addresses, and identification numbers like Aadhaar and PAN. The bot’s access is gated behind paid plans, costing between ₹99 and ₹4999. After a user buys a plan and provides a mobile number, the bot instantly provides a detailed profile, which includes alternative phone numbers, addresses and all sorts of documents, which poses a significant risk to user privacy.