WASHINGTON/BENGALURU (Reuters) - Stolen customer data including medical reports from India's biggest health insurer, Star Health, is publicly accessible via chatbots on Telegram, just weeks after Telegram's founder was accused of allowing the messenger app to facilitate crime.

Sensitive customer data from Star Health Insurance was accessed via chatbots on Telegram, with claims of over 31 million records for sale. The company insists no widespread data breach occurred and is cooperating with authorities.

The data is available for free in small portions, while bulk data — amounting to 7.24 terabytes — is being offered for sale, according to a hacker using the alias “xenZen.”

The news agency quoted UK-based security researcher Jason Parker, who noted that the Star Health chatbots feature a welcome message stating they are “by xenZen” and have been operational since at least August 6.

Star Health, one of India's largest insurer, suffered a data breach, leading to the leak of personal and medical data of 31 million people.

A UK researcher alleges that a Star Health Insurance official sold personal data of over 3.1 crore customers, raising concerns about data security.

Star Health and Allied Insurance, whose market capitalisation exceeds $4 billion, in a statement to Reuters said it has reported alleged unauthorised data access to local authorities.

In a concerning development, stolen customer data including medical reports from India's biggest health insurer, Star Health Insurance, is publicly accessible via chatbots on Telegram.  According to a report by Reuters,

Telegram chatbots have allowed unauthorized access to Star Health customer data including test results and medical diagnoses.