Imagine getting access to someone’s Aadhaar number, PAN details, voter ID, home address, father’s name, and even alternate phone numbers—all by entering their mobile number and paying just ₹99. It sounds like a dystopian sci-fi plot, but this chilling scenario is playing out in real-time on Telegram. According to a report by Digit, a bot on the popular messaging app is allegedly offering detailed personal profiles of Indian citizens for peanuts. For ₹4,999, users can even gain unlimited monthly access.
What’s worse? The data is disturbingly accurate and up-to-date, some of it just 3-4 years old. As the news spreads, netizens and cybersecurity experts alike are left stunned, raising questions about digital privacy, regulatory apathy, and the unchecked misuse of platforms like Telegram.
Credits: Business Today
How Does the Bot Work?
The process is horrifyingly simple. Users input a mobile number, pay a small fee, and receive an exhaustive personal dossier of the person associated with that number. The dataset reportedly includes:
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Aadhaar Number
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PAN Details
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Voter ID Info
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Full Residential Address
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Father’s Name
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Alternate Phone Numbers
For cybercriminals and fraudsters, this is a goldmine. For ordinary citizens, it’s a nightmare.
Where Did the Data Come From?
Experts believe the trove of sensitive data has been quietly compiled over years from multiple large-scale breaches—public utilities, fintech apps, and telecom databases being the likely sources. This database, potentially hosted on the dark web or private servers, has now surfaced in a disturbingly accessible form: a Telegram bot.
The likely scenario is this—data gathered from past leaks (some dating back to 2020) has been packaged into an easily searchable format, monetised, and made available with minimal checks. The fact that it’s available on a mainstream platform like Telegram only adds insult to injury.
The High Cost of Cheap Data
The implications of this breach are vast and dangerous. With this kind of personal information, malicious actors can:
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Forge identities and documents for fraudulent KYC registrations
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Take unauthorised bank loans in someone else’s name
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Perform SIM card cloning to bypass OTPs
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Access bank accounts or digital wallets
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Create fake digital profiles for impersonation or scam operations
This is more than a privacy violation—it’s a full-blown national security concern.
Telegram’s Troubling Role
Telegram has long been under scrutiny for being a hotbed of piracy, illicit trade, and unchecked bot activity. Yet the existence of such a bot—selling stolen identities—suggests gross negligence or deliberate ignorance. Despite past criticism, Telegram continues to avoid accountability, hiding behind its encrypted, decentralized nature.
And where are the authorities? With mounting reports, one would expect swift intervention from cybersecurity agencies or law enforcement. Instead, there’s an eerie silence, reflecting the larger issue of weak digital regulation in India.
How Can Citizens Protect Themselves?
Though ordinary users are largely helpless against such systemic breaches, there are precautionary measures individuals can take:
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Lock your Aadhaar via the UIDAI website to prevent misuse.
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Never share personal information with unknown sources or on unverified apps.
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Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on all financial and social media platforms.
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Monitor bank accounts and credit reports for any suspicious activity.
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Report cybercrime at cybercrime.gov.in or local cyber police stations.
Cyber hygiene is now as important as physical safety.
Credits: Reuters
A Systemic Failure in Urgent Need of Action
This incident isn’t just a one-off case—it’s a flashing red alert. India, home to the largest biometric identity system in the world, cannot afford to treat data breaches lightly. It’s time for regulators, platforms like Telegram, and cybersecurity authorities to step up. Stricter data protection laws, quicker enforcement, and international collaboration are not just desirable—they are essential.
Until then, citizens remain vulnerable in a country where, disturbingly, your entire identity can be bought for less than the price of a pizza.
