Common Telegram Scams To Be Aware Of

Telegram is a messaging platform people use to communicate in large groups or broadcast messages in channels. Some common scams on Telegram include fake channels, tech support scams, phishing scams and cryptocurrency scams. The consequences of falling for these scams could include losing money, having your device infected with malware or even having your identity stolen.

Continue reading to learn the seven most common types of scams on Telegram so you can avoid falling victim to these scams.

1. Fake Telegram channels

Media organizations or celebrities use Telegram channels to broadcast messages to their subscribers. Popular channels can focus on various topics, including international news, wildlife photos, trending memes, baking recipes, classic artwork and much more. Anyone can create a channel, and scammers take advantage of this to create fake Telegram channels. Sometimes, scammers create fake channels to appear almost identical to popular channels to draw in unsuspecting victims. They do this by using the same profile picture, copying the same pinned messages and including admins with usernames very similar to those of the legitimate channel.

The harm of this scam occurs when users within that channel or the fake admins contact you directly and try to get you to click on a link to learn more about their channel. However, this link could contain malware, which could then infect your device. Make sure you double-check the legitimacy of a channel before communicating with any admins and especially before clicking a link or sharing any personal information.

2. Telegram tech support scams

Scammers pose as legitimate tech support agents and use bots to scan channels for anyone having issues with a company. For example, if there is a channel for a large clothing brand and you report having issues shopping online, a scammer’s bot might scan for keywords related to technical issues and reach out to you. They will claim to be from a company you are familiar with and offer technical support by controlling your device remotely. Do not allow this, as the tech support agent in this scenario is most likely a scammer attempting to steal your private information. A tech support scammer could install malware onto your device if you give them remote control over it, which is why you should never allow anyone to do this unless they are a legitimate support agent. Always contact an official channel directly rather than share sensitive information with someone who reached out to you first.

3. Telegram impersonation scams

Similar to tech support scams, impersonation scams occur when a scammer – such as one on Telegram – pretends to be someone they’re not, like a company or public figure. They do this to trick you into sharing personal information with them. For example, you may be on a channel and receive a message from a fake Telegram admin about a giveaway or prize. The scammer might say that to win the prize, all you need to do is share your personal information with them, such as your shipping address or credit card information. By sharing your sensitive information with a scammer, your identity could be stolen, and the scammer could commit fraud in your name using your credit card information.

4. Telegram romance scams

If you believe you met the love of your life on a Telegram channel and they keep asking you for money or gifts, you might have fallen for a catfisher. Romance scams occur when a scammer expresses romantic feelings toward you online. After you’ve communicated with the scammer and they know intimate details about you, they may have a sudden emergency and ask for money. By sending a romance scammer money or personal information, you could risk losing that money forever and exposing private details about your identity to a stranger. On Telegram, if anyone you’re communicating with asks for money or very personal information after a short time of knowing each other, you might be a target of a romance scam.

5. Telegram phishing scams

Phishing scams can happen both on the Telegram app and outside of it, when scammers send phishing emails that appear to come from the messaging platform. A phishing attack occurs when a scammer tricks you into sharing private information by pretending to be someone you trust, like a familiar individual or business. On Telegram, scammers rely on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and use bots to sound natural and believable. A scammer’s bots may impersonate a representative from a bank or mobile carrier, messaging you to ask for your private information to verify your accounts. Outside of Telegram, you may receive an official-looking email from Telegram, claiming that you need to click a link within 24 hours or else your Telegram account will be deactivated. This is another method that scammers use to steal your login credentials and install malware on your device. Falling for these phishing scams could lead to your identity being stolen and potentially to fraud being committed in your name. If you recognize that these scammers are using urgent language or requesting your sensitive information, it is most likely a phishing scam.

6. Telegram fake job listings and offers scams

Scammers post fake job listings and offers on Telegram to mislead you into sharing personal information. For example, you may follow a channel for work-from-home job opportunities, and a fake user posts a very interesting job description. While applying for the job, you may notice the job application asks for your Social Security number (SSN) or credit card information. At this point, you should recognize that this is a scam, as no legitimate company will ask you for this type of sensitive information when you are merely applying for a job. Failing to recognize that these job listings or offers are illegitimate could lead to your identity being stolen.

7. Telegram cryptocurrency scams

Since Telegram is a popular messaging app for those interested in cryptocurrency, scammers have taken advantage of this interest by creating crypto-related scams. In these scams, scammers impersonate crypto experts and trick you into investing or sending them cryptocurrency, which will result in you losing money. You may receive a message from someone claiming to be a crypto investor with opportunities for financial success. However, if you agree to invest, the scammer will have you move your cryptocurrency into a new account for the investment, leading to them stealing your funds. Anyone guaranteeing you a high return on your crypto investment should not be trusted due to the number of crypto scammers on Telegram.

How to avoid being scammed on Telegram

Although there are various Telegram scams to be aware of, there are also many ways to avoid becoming a victim of these scams.

Never respond to unsolicited requests for personal information

Refrain from responding to any unsolicited messages requesting your Personally Identifiable Information (PII). Some examples of PII include your SSN, bank account information, credit card number, full legal name, home address or phone number. If you share any of your PII with someone who contacts you unprovoked on Telegram, you risk becoming a victim of identity theft. A scammer can use your PII to open loans in your name, make fake insurance claims or commit tax fraud, so never share your PII with anyone on Telegram to stay safe.

Avoid clicking unsolicited links

Just as you shouldn’t share any personal information in response to unsolicited requests, you shouldn’t click on unsolicited links. A link that someone sends you out of the blue could contain malware, which can infect your device and steal your private information. Before clicking on a link that anyone on Telegram or beyond the app sends you, check that the link is safe by hovering your mouse over it to preview the URL or inserting the link into a URL checker.

Secure your Telegram account

Make sure that your Telegram account is equipped with a strong and unique password. Your Telegram account will be more secure if your password contains at least 16 characters, combining uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. If your Telegram account uses a weak or easy-to-guess password, a scammer can hack into your account and steal your personal information or impersonate you.

Another way to secure your Telegram account is by enabling Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). This is an additional security measure that requires an extra form of authentication to verify your identity before granting access to your account. Common types of MFA include a code from an authenticator app, your fingerprint, a PIN or an answer to a security question. Telegram supports Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) by sending a code to your linked phone number for identity verification. By enabling MFA, you protect your Telegram account even if a scammer somehow figures out your username and password because they won’t have the additional form of authentication.

Adjust your Telegram account’s privacy settings

Although Telegram has a feature to encrypt your messages, you need to adjust your account’s privacy setting to enable it. You can enable end-to-end encryption on your Telegram account by following these steps:

1. Open the Telegram app
2. Create a new message
3. Tap New Secret Chat to send an end-to-end encrypted message
4. Select which of your contacts you would like to send an encrypted message to

By sending encrypted messages this way on Telegram, your messages will have a self-destruct timer and cannot be forwarded to other users. Note that this only works for direct messages, as group chats and channels on Telegram are unencrypted.

Stay protected against scammers on Telegram

Scammers are everywhere, including Telegram, so it’s important to know how to protect yourself and your personal information online. One of the most important steps in securing any of your accounts is to have a strong password. Keeper Password Manager has a built-in password generator that can help you create strong, secure passwords for your Telegram account and other online accounts.

Start your free 30-day trial of Keeper Password Manager today to stay protected against scammers on Telegram and beyond with strong password practices.