Apple, Google Remove Huione Apps Amid $24B Cyberscam Scandal

• A $24 billion fraud network used apps and cryptocurrency for large-scale scams and theft.  
• The apps were removed after investigations revealed their connection to illegal global operations.  
• Though rebranded, the platform operates illegally via Telegram and digital currencies.  

Tech giants Apple and Google have removed Huione Guarantee apps from their stores following revelations of a $24 billion dark web marketplace linked to cyber scams, money laundering, and stolen data sales. The platform has fueled Southeast Asia’s cybercrime epidemic, operated by Cambodia’s Huione Group and exposed by Elliptic, despite regulatory interventions and heightened scrutiny.  

Dark Web Operations Unveiled by Investigation

Elliptic, a blockchain analytics firm, exposed Huione Guarantee in July 2024 as a multibillion-dollar hub for online fraud schemes. The platform enabled “pig butchering” scams and sold stolen personal data, money laundering services, and fraud-enabling technology.  

The marketplace, which has ties to the Cambodian Huione Group, also operated through the Telegram app, which has faced scrutiny for illegal activities. Researchers found thousands of vendors offering services and tools for large-scale cybercrime operations.  

Perhaps no other entity bears as much responsibility for global cyber scams,

Elliptic noted, linking the group to $24 billion in cryptocurrency transactions. Monthly inflows have risen 51% since the July report, reaching nearly 900,000 users.  

Source: Elliptic

Cryptocurrency Tech and Stablecoin Boost Activity 

Cryptocurrency tools, including a decentralized exchange and the USDH stablecoin partly drove Huione Guarantee’s rise. The stablecoin launched after Tether froze a Huione Pay account in July over alleged ties to North Korea’s Lazarus Group.  

Despite app removals from major stores, the platform continued to operate on Telegram under the new name Haowang Guarantee. Researchers claim this rebranding aims to sidestep scrutiny while maintaining core activities.  

The platform’s cryptocurrency wallets reportedly received billions, with its stablecoin facilitating untraceable transactions. This shift highlights app stores’ ongoing challenge of preventing criminal activities while supporting legitimate tech innovations.  

App Store Accountability Questioned 

The removal of Huione Guarantee apps from Apple and Google Play has sparked debates about tech companies’ role in regulating content. On X (formerly Twitter), users questioned whether action would have occurred without Elliptic’s investigation.  

Additionally, the platform’s reliance on Telegram underscores legal challenges in curbing illicit operations while preserving communication freedoms. Critics argue app stores must implement stricter measures to detect and block harmful platforms.  

As Huione Guarantee continues its operations under a new name, one pressing question remains: Can tech companies and law enforcement stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated cybercriminal networks?

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