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Telegram is a great app for secure messaging with friends or business partners around the world. It is one of the most popular apps used by individuals and companies alike.
Telegram offers many unique and helpful features, making it a very appealing choice for users who want an additional layer of privacy when communicating. But, while there are many pros to Telegram, it is also a hotspot for scammers.
If you’re interested in using Telegram or are required to do so by your job, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with common Telegram scams. This way, you’ll know what to look for and can avoid falling victim to scam tactics.
Read on to learn more about Telegram and common scams to watch out for.
What Is Telegram?
Telegram is a cloud-based messaging app that is best known for its added privacy features and unlimited storage abilities. It’s popularity is undeniable, and on the Apple app store it’s listed as one of the top 5 most downloaded apps in the world, with over 950 million users.
Telegram’s cloud-based design also allows users to connect across the globe without facing carrier restrictions or having to pay phone service fees. It’s a great way to securely chat and call people both domestically and internationally.
Here are some more features that make Telegram unique to other messaging apps like WhatsApp:
- High-speed messaging: Telegram is the fastest messaging app out there.
- Sync between devices: Telegram can be downloaded and used on any device such as phones, tablets, laptops, and computers. And you can sync your devices so your chats update across all of them.
- Security and privacy: All traffic on Telegram (chats, calls, files) is encrypted, and messages can self destruct if needed.
- Secret chats: If you’re looking for an extra layer of security and privacy, you can set up secret chats, where everything self-destructs for both people in the chat. This includes all media (chats, videos, photos, etc).
- No data tracking: Telegram doesn’t collect your data or use it to send you ads.
- Anonymity: Telegram doesn’t require you to reveal your real phone number.
- Unlimited storage: You can send as many videos, pictures, and files as you want in Telegram without a limit. All media will be kept and stored in the Telegram cloud at no extra cost.
- Powerful capabilities: Telegram can handle large group chats and files easily. You can add up to 200,000 members to a chat, send large videos, and send files up to 2 GB.
- Easy to use: Despite offering many features, the interface is easy to learn and navigate.
- API: For developers and tech-savvy people, Telegram allows you to create and run programs using the Application Programming Interface through their platform. This includes things like:
- Gateway API: Send verification codes through Telegram rather than a third-party app
- Bot API: Connect bots to Telegram to run additional code
- Extra fun: You can edit photos/videos, add unique emojis, stickers, and GIFs, and change the theme color of the app.
Why Do Scammers Target Telegram?
As amazing as Telegram sounds, particularly for large group business use, it is often targeted by scammers. This is partly because of Telegram’s anonymity, which makes it easy for people to sign up and create a fake account without giving any sensitive information and personal data away.
Telegram’s end-to-end encryption also makes it hard for authorities to track activity within the app. Hackers can use the seemingly good features that are part of Telegram, like the sharing of files, large group chat creation, and support of automated chatbots.
If these features are properly exploited by cybercriminals, they can send malicious links and all kinds of other bad things to a large number of Telegram users at once. The more people they’re able to reach, the more likely it is that someone will fall for the scam.
10 Telegram Scams To Look Out For
Telegram can be a great messaging platform for secure chatting, contacting international friends, and organizing business communication. Telegram is only increasing in popularity as the need for privacy continues to grow in the digital world. To stay safe while using Telegram so you can enjoy all of the amazing features to their fullest, you should familiarize yourself with Telegram scammers and their tactics.
Here is a list of 10 Telegram scams to keep an eye out for:
1. Crypto Scams
Cryptocurrency is a form of digital currency that allows people to securely send money back and forth using cryptography (coding and decoding information so only the sender and recipient can read it). With crypto, there is no bank or government handling and monitoring the flow of money.
Telegram has become a hub for people interested in the world of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. Cybercriminals have begun to recognize this trend and have started posing as crypto experts. They claim to know how to make a huge profit if only you invest with them. The goal is for you to hand over your crypto coins, cash, or details so they can take your money.
Once you invest with them, they might even create fake data to make it look like your investment is paying off, potentially swaying you to invest even more. Then they disappear with your money, never to be heard from again.
The world of cryptocurrency is still fairly new and risky. Before you begin dabbling in crypto and exploring investment opportunities, do thorough research to become familiar with how the process works as much as you can. Read articles, consult experts, and invest responsibly.
If you’re going to use Telegram for crypto, be wary of any account that approaches you and volunteers to assist you. Some may be legit, but some might also be scammers. Before you agree to work with anyone, do a background check on them. Better yet, work with known experts that you approach, not those who approach you first.
2. Phishing Scams
Phishing is a common online scam that most often occurs via email or text message. Phishers are scammers who request personal information from you, often impersonating a real person or company to seem legit before doing so.
Regular phishing may occur on Telegram groups or individual chats, where a Telegram account poses as a real company and requests your information. Look for key red flags like:
- A generic greeting
- Claims they’ve noticed suspicious login activity
- Claims there’s a problem with your account or payment information
- Asks you to confirm financial information (like bank account and credit card details)
- Requires you to click a link to make a payment
- Poor spelling/grammar
While these are signs of regular phishing attempts, it’s helpful to know if a fraudster tries these tactics on Telegram.
Chatbot Phishing
More unique to Telegram are chatbot phishing scams. Telegram allows users to build and use AI-powered bots, and these bots are advanced enough to converse with you like a real person.
Hackers can program Telegram bots to pretend to be reputable companies and request your information. They can act as banks, crypto platforms, tech companies, and really whatever their heart desires. From there, they will likely employ some of the strategies listed above and attempt to gain access to your login credentials, passwords, and more.
3. Fake Telegram Channels
Telegram channels are able to reach an extremely large number of people at once. This is very appealing to hackers, who need to reach many people in hopes some of them will fall for their scam.
Phony channels will often imitate real ones, pretending to be hubs for cryptocurrency, real companies, real people, and more. To seem purely informational and to discourage further conversation, these channels might be set up as “broadcast only,” where users cannot reply.
Within the channel, the scammer might advertise fake prizes, investment scams, fake giveaways, and more to encourage people to hand over their personal information or money in hopes they win whatever the scammer pretends to offer.
4. Employment Scams
There’s nothing quite as exciting as a shiny new job posting to offer an escape from your current job. Fraudsters use this to their advantage and post ideal positions on Telegram with attractive perks that may include high salaries, flexible hours, or extra vacation days.
Once you reach out to this fake recruiter and show your interest, they might request personal data or try to make you pay for training. If you see a good job listed on Telegram, cross-check official websites like Indeed to verify the position. If you can’t find anything else about the job online, it might be a scam. Companies aren’t likely to use Telegram as their sole hiring platform.
5. Romance Scams
If you’re looking for love and neither real life nor traditional dating apps have worked out, we’re sorry, but Telegram is probably not the answer.
Romance scammers can play the game one of two ways: they can take things slow to build trust over a long period of time, or they can take things extremely fast, which likely consists of love bombing and explicit chats or content.
Telegram romance scams are more known for being quick flings that escalate unusually quickly. Scammers request money under the guise of paying for something that will benefit the relationship they can’t afford, or they try to obtain compromising content from the person they’re targeting and then blackmail them.
If you begin a romantic situation with someone on Telegram, be extra cautious if they request money at any point or push you to send photos or videos of yourself. And if you really do think it’s true love, consider continuing the conversation on a less secretive platform, look up their social media accounts, and try to confirm their authenticity before continuing any further.
6. Fake Sales
Scrolling through a marketplace site like Facebook Marketplace or eBay and finding a new laptop in perfect condition for $40 might feel like you won the lottery when, in fact, it’s a major red flag. Fraudsters will pose as sellers on these sites and typically advertise that they’re selling something of high value for a suspiciously low cost.
Once you contact them, they may redirect the conversation to a messaging app like Telegram. Now that you know Telegram is notorious for its anonymity and privacy features, you should be instantly wary of a seller who wants to conduct their sale of a seemingly normal item on an encrypted site.
If you agree to the sale, the scammer will take your money and disappear. And Telegram’s lovely privacy features will make it very difficult to hold them accountable.
7. Fake Customer Support
If a Telegram user contacts you via an individual or group chat and claims there’s an issue with your account, you should be instantly suspicious. Similar to the phishing attack strategy, scammers might pose as real tech support agents from real companies and request your account information to fix the supposed issue.
Scammers can perform this scam as themselves or using a Telegram bot to help them. Bots can even search through existing Telegram channels to find groups that are more likely to have accounts with certain companies, making the scam appear more realistic.
8. Impersonation
Again, similar to phishing scams, cybercriminals can carry out their fraudulent schemes on Telegram by creating fake profiles and posing as people or companies you know. They might even get personal and imitate your family members or friends to gain your trust and boost the likelihood you’ll send money or give out personal information.
If a person or company you know reaches out to you on Telegram offering help or asking for information or money, contact them on another platform before you comply. If it’s a company, email them or call their listed number. If it’s someone you know, call or text them.
9. Lookalike Admin Account
While usernames can only be used once on Telegram, scammers can create fake usernames that appear very similar to legitimate admin accounts. Their strategy is often to contact people who pose questions in group chats, claiming to be an official channel for answers.
From there, they might request your account information, try to further lure you into a phishing scam, or provide suspicious links that contain malware. Real admins on Telegram are much more likely to answer your question in the group channel so that everyone can learn from the answer.
If you receive a personal message from what looks like an admin account, you should be on alert for a scam attempt. Also look for misspellings and errors in the account name that contacted you by looking up the real admin on your own.
10. Malware Distribution
Skilled hackers can embed malware into links and messages they might send as part of any of the above-listed scams. If you click on a link/attachment or download a file that contains malware off of Telegram, it can go on to infect your whole device and severely compromise your overall cybersecurity.
The best practice is to never click on a link or file sent by someone you don’t know. Going back to impersonation scams and lookalike admin accounts, double and triple-check that you do in fact know and trust the account that sent you the link or file before opening it.
The Second Phone Number Alternative
If you’re looking for a way to communicate more discreetly without having to learn a new app like Telegram and potentially put yourself at risk for scams, you can always download a second phone number app like Burner phone instead.
Second numbers allow you basic anonymity in that your new number isn’t connected to your identity in the way your primary one is. You can communicate more privately with people outside your main circle and protect your identity when creating online accounts requiring a phone number.
For everyday use, a second number may be all you need to achieve the anonymity you desire. Try Burner today to see if a second number is right for you.
Is Telegram Worth It?
The number of scams and fraudulent schemes on Telegram shouldn’t deter you from exploring what the app has to offer. If you are frequently conducting highly sensitive conversations or meetings, want to be able to contact international friends without fees, or are interested in the lack of a storage limit for sent attachments, Telegram might still be a great app for you.
The key is being careful and staying vigilant while using the app. Look out for both major and minor red flags that might indicate someone is trying to scam you. Be cautious around unknown accounts that reach out to you first, and never send money or personal information without confirming the identity and legitimacy of the other account.
Telegram is certainly not an app that’s going away, so don’t be afraid to be part of the future of encrypted messaging. As long as you’re appropriately cautious, Telegram can be a very helpful app to use.
Sources:
What is Telegram Messenger? | Mailchimp
Telegram Messenger on the App Store
How To Recognize and Avoid Phishing Scams | Consumer Advice
8 Telegram scams. How not to get scammed
