Iran hires European criminals to work as spies via Telegram bots
Tehran-linked channels advertise paid assignments for surveillance and other tasks, raising concerns about a growing 'gig-economy' espionage model across Europe
Iran is recruiting a network of “gig-economy” spies across Europe through Telegram channels offering cash payments for surveillance and other tasks, UK security sources warn.
Using encrypted messaging apps and cash incentives, Iranian intelligence is seeking to enlist people from across the continent to carry out surveillance operations and potentially violent attacks, including assassinations,
The i Paper can reveal
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Channels on the messaging platform Telegram openly advertise “jobs” with Iran’s intelligence agency in a recruitment drive mirroring techniques used by Russian intelligence. The methods have raised concerns among counterterrorism officials that Tehran is increasingly outsourcing espionage and hostile operations to loosely connected proxies and criminals.
“They will literally hire anyone to commit arson, criminal damage, assault,” a Whitehall counter-terror source said, noting a “trend” whereby “professional criminals are recruited for the more sophisticated operations”.
One channel on the platform, which security officials believe is linked to Iranian intelligence, uses an automated Telegram bot to invite users to “work with Iranian intelligence in a tested, safe environment”.
Posts from the bot claim Tehran’s intelligence agencies recruit operatives “from all over the world regardless of incentives”. Another message urges members to “join us” and not “let your hidden talents and abilities go to waste”........