Telegram and USDT are becoming instruments of large-scale fraud schemes in Southeast Asia, resulting in multi-billion dollar losses and mass involvement of people in criminal centers.

According to a report by analytics company Elliptic and an expert assessment by Tom Robinson, by 2025 the total loss from fraud using the USDT (Tether) cryptocurrency could reach $442 billion. Such conclusions are also confirmed by Incrypted research, indicating that about 300,000 people are held against their will in so-called cybercrime centers located in former hotels and resorts in Southeast Asia.

Telegram, due to its anonymity and convenience, is becoming the main platform for coordinating criminal activities. The main means of settlement is the USDT stablecoin, which is transferred mainly through the TRON network, providing fast and hard-to-trace transactions.

Experts identify the main types of fraud realized through these channels: pig butchering schemes, blackmail using intimate photos, fake investment platforms, and personal data trading. The scale of the problem requires international law enforcement cooperation and the introduction of new cybersecurity tools to protect users.

According to experts, strengthening control over cryptocurrency transfers and improving digital literacy of the population can reduce the risks of involvement in such schemes and minimize damage to victims.