Hackers on Telegram Are Selling Access to Government, Law Enforcement Emails: Report

Hackers are selling access to email accounts purported to belong to powerful individuals including FBI agents and the former prime minister of Montenegro, according to a new report. 

The cyber criminals gather in Telegram channels to sell the passwords for prices ranging from $100 to $400, 404 Media reported.

Some of the users offered access to Indian government and law enforcement email accounts while others claimed they could sell passwords for accounts linked to the governments of Thailand, the United Kingdom, Germany, Bangladesh and Nepal. 

At least one hacker was reported as planning to use the accounts to access customer data found on social media sites such as TikTok and Instagram. 

According to the report, a reason why hackers would buy access to the accounts is that they allow users to make Emergency Data Requests, a process where social media companies provide information to law enforcement or government agencies in urgent situations, such as a child kidnapping.

Users in the Telegram channels discussed how to make fraudulent EDRs from sites like Facebook and TikTok, according to the reporting.

Spokespeople for Facebook and TikTok told 404 that they have taken steps to prevent fake requests but did not mention if any had succeeded in getting the information they were after.