Probe finds 'crime-for-hire' services thriving on Telegram

· UPI

April 7 (Asia Today) -- A growing underground market offering "crime-for-hire" services is operating openly on Telegram, where illegal acts ranging from assault to hacking - and even murder - are advertised and priced like commercial services, according to an Asia Today investigation.

Reporters who contacted multiple Telegram channels found operators responding within seconds, offering quotes based on the type and complexity of the crime. The services included assault, theft, document forgery and cyberattacks, with prices varying widely depending on factors such as security conditions and the level of planning required.

In one exchange, an operator quoted about 6 million won ($4,100) to break a target's arm, saying the job would involve several days of surveillance and could be disguised as an accident. Clients were told they would not participate in the process and would receive only the final result.

Listings resembled a menu, with prices for lower-level crimes such as assault or theft starting at about 800,000 won ($550) and rising to tens of millions of won depending on complexity. More serious crimes, including contract killings, were offered for more than 100 million won ($69,000), operators said.

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The investigation found that motivation was largely irrelevant to service providers. Requests were accepted without questioning the client's intent, reinforcing what investigators described as a purely profit-driven model.

The services extended beyond physical crimes into digital offenses. Operators claimed they could hack institutional systems to alter official records, including military service classifications and exam scores. They also advertised services such as social media account hacking and deletion of criminal records.

Transactions were designed to avoid detection. All communication took place via Telegram, with no identity verification required. Payments were typically made using cryptocurrency such as Tether, while burner phones and disposable SIM cards were reportedly used during operations and discarded afterward.

The structure of the operations appeared compartmentalized, with separate accounts handling inquiries and execution. Clients were not put in direct contact with those carrying out the crimes, and operators said personal information was not shared internally.

South Korean police have categorized similar activity as "revenge-for-hire" crime tied to personal disputes. However, the investigation found most requests were not driven by personal grievances but by financial incentives, suggesting the emergence of a broader criminal marketplace.

A comparable trend in Japan, known as "yamibaito," or illicit part-time work, has evolved from minor vandalism into organized robbery and murder, raising concerns that a similar pattern could take hold in South Korea.

Authorities are increasingly warning that the anonymity and accessibility of encrypted platforms are accelerating the commercialization of crime, lowering barriers for both clients and perpetrators.

-- Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260406010001540