In a disturbing revelation, a Telegram bot data leak has been found selling the personal data of Indian citizens for as little as ₹99. According to a report by Digit, the bot is allegedly offering full personal profiles including Aadhaar numbers, PAN card details, voter ID data, addresses, and alternate contact numbers — all retrievable just by entering a mobile number.
How the Telegram Bot Works
The bot operates on the Telegram app, a platform known for its encrypted messaging and ease of bot creation. Users who find the bot are prompted to pay a fee starting at ₹99 to access data. There are also bulk query plans going up to ₹4,999. After payment, users simply enter a 10-digit mobile number, and within seconds, a full personal profile of the individual linked to the number is provided Telegram bot data leak.
This includes:
- Full name
- Father’s name
- Registered address
- Aadhaar number
- PAN card number
- Voter ID number
- Alternate phone number
Is the Data Accurate?
The publication verified the bot’s claims by testing it with mobile numbers belonging to their own staff. The bot returned correct names and addresses, and even government-issued ID details. While some data appeared to be 3–4 years old, much of it was recent and matched known records.
This strongly suggests that the bot may be using data harvested from past data breaches or leaked government and telecom databases. However, it remains unclear exactly how the database was assembled.
Potential Risks of Data Misuse
Security experts warn that such bots are a goldmine for identity thieves, scammers, and stalkers. With Aadhaar, PAN, and address information easily accessible, the risks include Telegram bot data leak:
- Financial fraud
- SIM swap attacks
- Loan and credit card scams
- Stalking and harassment
- Phishing and impersonation attempts
Is Telegram Responsible?
While Telegram allows bot creation, it remains unclear how such a privacy-violating bot went undetected. Telegram has not yet commented on the issue, but experts say this raises serious questions about the platform’s moderation and security practices.
Telegram recently signed a $300 million deal with Elon Musk’s xAI to bring Grok chatbot to the app, putting the platform under more scrutiny regarding data and privacy responsibilities.
Government and Cybersecurity Reaction
As of now, the Indian government has not issued a statement regarding the alleged bot. However, cybersecurity agencies may be prompted to act, especially since India was part of the massive 16-billion credentials data leak earlier this year.
Digital rights activists have called for a comprehensive data protection law and urged authorities to work with Telegram to take down such illegal operations. India’s draft Data Protection Bill is still under parliamentary review Telegram bot data leak.
Why This Should Concern You
Even if your personal information was not leaked this time, the ease with which bots can access and share sensitive data shows just how fragile digital privacy in India has become. Without strong data protection laws, public awareness, and corporate accountability, the trend is likely to continue Telegram bot data leak.
How to Protect Yourself:
- Regularly monitor your credit score and financial records
- Never share Aadhaar or PAN details publicly or with unverified sources
- Enable 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication) on all apps
- Use spam filters and caller ID apps to reduce scam calls
Conclusion
The existence of such a bot highlights the dark side of data digitization and poor cybersecurity standards. While Telegram may soon face pressure to act, it also underscores the urgent need for regulatory reforms in India’s digital ecosystem.
Stay tuned to The Morning News Informer for updates on the bot’s takedown, possible legal action, and how the government responds to this alarming breach of privacy Telegram bot data leak.
