The encrypted messaging service Telegram has been named the fastest-growing platform for online fraud, with reported cases skyrocketing 233 per cent in just one year. According to research from the banking app Revolut, scammers are exploiting the private nature of Telegram, where users communicate in encrypted chats and public channels, making it an increasingly fertile ground for criminal activity. Revolut has warned that fraud on the platform is “running rampant” and urged social media companies to take responsibility for policing their networks.
Telegram has more than a billion users globally, with 2.5 million joining the platform every day. It was founded as a private alternative to mainstream social media, offering end-to-end encryption and user-controlled public channels. However, its promise of privacy has made it particularly attractive to scammers, who use the service to conduct authorised push payment (APP) fraud, persuading victims to transfer money directly to fraudsters. In 2025, Telegram and Facebook accounted for the largest share of reported APP fraud, each representing 21 per cent of cases, while TikTok saw the fastest growth in scams, with fraud reports rising sixfold to 6 per cent of total incidents.
The rise in fraud has prompted calls from experts and journalists for stronger oversight. The Times, as part of its Smarter with Money campaign, has highlighted the responsibility of social media platforms in regulating influencers and content that may mislead users financially. Woody Malouf, head of financial crime at Revolut, told reporters, “The digital ecosystem is only as strong as its weakest link. We need social media companies to step up. Protecting users must be a shared priority across the entire industry, including the platforms where these scams are born.”
While banks are legally obliged to refund victims of APP fraud up to £85,000 within five business days, this protection does not apply if the customer is found to be grossly negligent. Even with these safeguards, victims often face stress, financial loss, and lengthy recovery periods. According to the National Crime Agency, only 14 per cent of fraud cases are reported to police, meaning the majority of online scams remain hidden and unpunished.
Revolut’s research indicates that job scams are the fastest-growing type of fraud. Victims are often lured by offers of non-existent employment or fraudulent visa sponsorships, as revealed in a Times investigation into an immigration black market. Other schemes involve fake recruiters requesting money upfront for positions that do not exist, preying on job seekers’ desperation. These scams are particularly effective on platforms that allow private or semi-private communication, such as Telegram, where victims may not have access to verification tools or third-party oversight.
UK Finance, the trade body representing financial institutions, warned that 66 per cent of APP fraud in the first half of 2025 originated online. “While some platforms have made meaningful progress, others still fail to have adequate protections in place,” the organisation said. “The government’s forthcoming fraud strategy must ensure that the tech sector takes responsibility for preventing and disrupting this awful crime.”
Experts argue that the growth of online fraud reflects a broader tension between privacy and security. Encrypted services such as Telegram provide legitimate users with protection from surveillance and data breaches, but they also create blind spots that scammers exploit. The challenge for regulators and tech companies is to balance these competing priorities while ensuring that users can communicate safely.
As the number of Telegram users continues to grow, the scale of potential fraud could increase further. Analysts warn that platforms relying on rapid expansion without robust safeguards risk becoming global hubs for scams, affecting not only individual victims but the wider financial ecosystem. Revolut and other banks stress that education, awareness campaigns, and stricter platform oversight are essential to prevent APP fraud from spiralling out of control.
