Last year, Telegram was the fastest growing source of authorized push payment (APP) scams worldwide. While Meta’s platforms account for 44% of fraud, cases originating from Telegram have grown by 233% as fraudsters abuse the platform to rapidly scale fraud. This is the result of the Revolut Consumer Security and Financial Crime Report, which maps the changing tactics of fraudsters in Slovakia and across Europe.
- Telegram saw the fastest increase in APP scams.
- Frauds from Telegram make up 21% of all cases.
- Meta platforms account for 44% of global internet fraud.
- Shopping fraud dominates, employment fraud is growing rapidly.
- In Slovakia, there are the most frauds from Facebook, WhatsApp and Telegram.
Fraud originating from Telegram today accounts for a fifth of all reported fraud (21%). Consumers may have the impression that these platforms are secure thanks to encryption, but the anonymity presented as an advantage on the platform has become a major tool for fraudsters who want to stay out of sight. This environment has proven to be particularly effective for complex fraud, with up to 58% of all work fraud in the world today originating on Telegram.
Together, Meta’s platforms accounted for nearly half (44%) of fraud reported to Revolut globally in 2025. This is already the fourth consecutive period in which Meta has held this position.
Although the volume of fraud originating from TikTok remains relatively low compared to more established platforms, year-on-year there was a sixfold increase in the share of fraud originating from this application.
Purchase fraud is the most common, employment fraud is growing rapidly. Despite the ever-changing nature of fraud, the incidence of shopping fraud remains relatively stable. However, the year 2025 has seen a global increase in employment fraud, which has roughly tripled year-on-year and now accounts for 22% of all fraud cases.
In Slovakia, according to the report, the majority of reported frauds in 2025 came from Facebook (28%), WhatsApp and Telegram (15% each). The most significant threat to local customers was purchase fraud, which accounted for 64% of all reported cases. Employment fraud saw the highest increase, accounting for 16% of all fraud, which is 6% more than in 2024.
“The rapid increase in fraud originating from Telegram shows how quickly criminal tactics are adapting. Revolut processes billions of data points to stay ahead, but the digital ecosystem is only as strong as its weakest link. We need social and communication platforms to take more responsibility. Protecting users must be a shared priority across the industry, including the platforms where these frauds originate,” said the head of financial crime Revolut Woody Malouf.
Revolut Bank UAB is a licensed European bank based in Lithuania, authorized and regulated by the Bank of Lithuania and the European Central Bank. Today, it is used by more than 70 million customers worldwide.
