Apple said on Monday ​it briefly removed the ‌Telegram messaging app from its App Store after a ​review found content ​that violated its guidelines “prohibiting child ⁠sexual abuse material.”

The ​company said it restored ​the app after “the developer promptly removed the content and banned ​the user who posted ​it.”

Telegram said on X: “Reports of ‌my ⁠demise are greatly exaggerated.”

An Apple spokesperson did not respond to a request ​for further ​comment ⁠on the guidelines violation. 

Telegram also ​did not respond ​to ⁠a request for comment. (Reuters)

The post Apple briefly removed Telegram from App Store after sexual abuse content violated guidelines appeared first on Newswire.

India has blocked the Telegram messaging app until June 22, saying the platform has been used to “defraud candidates” taking the medical entrance examination, the Ministry of Education said in a statement on Tuesday. 

The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Monday welcomed the Centre’s decision to impose temporary restrictions on Telegram in India, describing the move as a necessary step to curb examination-related fraud and misinformation ahead of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination scheduled for June 21.

According to an NTA statement, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), acting on recommendations from the agency, has directed a temporary restriction on access to Telegram in India until June 22. The government has also instructed the platform to disable its message-editing feature in India until June 30.

The NTA said the measures were aimed at preventing organised cheating networks from exploiting the platform to spread false claims of question paper leaks and to defraud students appearing for the medical entrance examination.

Why Telegram’s Editing Feature Is Under Scrutiny

The agency said Telegram’s message-editing capability had allegedly been used to create misleading “paper leak” evidence after examinations. According to NTA, channel administrators could edit older posts and replace attachments with question papers after an exam had concluded, while retaining the original timestamp. Such altered posts were then circulated as proof that examination papers had been leaked in advance.

Officials said disabling the feature temporarily would help prevent the creation and spread of such fabricated evidence during the post-examination period.

Crackdown on Fraud Networks

The NTA credited the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs for coordinating action against Telegram-based fraud and misinformation campaigns. The agency said several Telegram channels, groups and bots promoting fake promises of NEET question papers had already been taken down.

The statement also highlighted recent enforcement actions by state agencies. Bihar Police had issued a public advisory warning students against fraudulent claims of access to examination papers, while the Ahmedabad City Cyber Crime Branch reportedly arrested members of an inter-state cyber fraud gang allegedly operating multiple Telegram channels. Investigators claimed the network had handled transactions worth around Rs 1.5 crore and contacted nearly 1,000 mobile numbers in a month.

Students Urged Not to Trust “Paper Leak” Claims

The NTA reiterated that no NEET question paper exists outside the secured examination process and warned candidates against falling for claims made on social media and messaging platforms.

Several Telegram channels had allegedly demanded payments ranging from a few thousand rupees to several lakh rupees in exchange for purported access to the re-examination paper. The agency described all such offers as fraudulent.

Temporary Measure, Says NTA

Acknowledging the inconvenience caused to legitimate users, the NTA said the access restriction is limited to the period surrounding the examination and will end on June 22. The agency added that the temporary suspension of the message-editing feature will not affect users’ ability to send or receive new messages.

The NTA stressed that the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination will be conducted as scheduled on June 21 and assured students that the security and integrity of the examination remain intact.

Candidates have been advised to rely only on official NTA communications and the agency’s website for examination-related updates and to report any fraudulent approaches to cybercrime authorities immediately. (CNA/ NDTV)

The post India blocks Telegram messaging app until June 22, government says appeared first on Newswire.

Sri Lanka Police have issued a public warning about a dangerous new financial fraud being carried out through malicious “.apk” files sent via WhatsApp and Telegram.

According to the Police, these files are often disguised as wedding invitations, electricity bills, or lottery notices. Once clicked, they install harmful software on mobile phones. 

This allows hackers to control the device screen and read SMS messages, including confidential One Time Password (OTP) codes linked to bank accounts.

Police warn that suspicious “.apk” files should never be downloaded or opened, even if they appear to come from friends.

 “Always use Google Play Store or Apple App Store to obtain apps, and ensure the ‘Install Unknown Apps’ option in phone settings is disabled,” the statement said.

They further advised that anyone who suspects they have fallen victim should immediately suspend their bank accounts and report the matter to the nearest police station or the Computer Crimes Division of the CID. (Newswire)

The post Police warn over new digital banking scam via WhatsApp and Telegram appeared first on Newswire.

A 31-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly defrauding over Rs. 6.8 million through an online investment scam, following an investigation by the Cyber Crime Investigation Sub Division of the North Western Province.

Investigations had been launched following a complaint that the suspect had promised financial returns through an online platform and directed victims to deposit funds into a bank account.

The scam was primarily operated via the messaging app Telegram, Police said. The suspect, a resident of Welipanna, had presented himself as an online investor.

According to officials, the suspect received a total of Rs. 6,860,000 from the complainant. Of this, Rs. 500,000 was reportedly deposited into the suspect’s own bank account.

Further investigations into the incident are ongoing. (Newswire)

The post Man arrested in Telegram-based investment scam for defrauding Rs. 6.8 Mn appeared first on Newswire.

The Sri Lankan Police has warned the public of various fraudulent activities being carried out by exploiting social media platforms such as Telegram, WhatsApp, etc., via the internet.

According to the Police, there are instances where fraudsters are obtaining the account details (Username/Password) of unsuspecting individuals through various methods, including QR codes, and subsequently blocking the original owners from their online accounts.

The Police state these fraudsters are engaging in such activities by requesting money for fake job opportunities.

As such, the public has been informed to remain vigilant of fraudulent schemes online and to be aware of such activities. The public has been warned as follows;

• To be cautious of fraudulent and income-generating schemes carried out through familiar social media platforms (such as Telegram, WhatsApp, etc.) and groups, even if they appear to be managed by known persons or familiar social media platforms.
• To avoid using internet links and website addresses sent by known persons or familiar social media platforms and groups.
• To be wary of requests from known persons on platforms like Viber to deposit money into their accounts, to engage in currency exchange with them, or to use one’s own bank account on behalf of others for transactions.
• To never share account details or OTPs with unknown persons under any circumstances.
• To be cautious and use secure methods when making online payments or using internet links recommended by known persons, and to verify the authenticity of such requests. (Newswire)

The post Public warned of Telegram, WhatsApp online fraud appeared first on Newswire.