Telegram is a popular crypto messaging program. Every major blockchain project and cryptocurrency community has a Telegram account with groups and channels for community building and involvement.
Telegram’s popularity has made it a wonderful resource for crypto aficionados looking to learn more and discuss their favorite projects, but it has also attracted scammers.
Telegram scams are common on the private messaging service, and most users have faced one. Telegram fraudsters usually target crypto beginners.
With some basic understanding and settings changes, you can avoid most frauds. Discover and avoid fraudulent Telegram groups safely and securely via learning, conversations, and content production. This tutorial will help you avoid Telegram scams.
What is a Telegram scam account and how does it work?
Telegram scams are fraud operations via the app or on risky third-party websites.
Scammers love Telegram because of its ubiquity and usability. Only a phone number is needed to register. The scams vary from simple phishing to complex Telegram bot attacks that impersonate customers or tech support.
Telegram Scam Possibilities
Phishing Attacks:Telegram users pretend to be friends, colleagues, customers, or tech support agents. They provide a link to a phishing site to steal your personal information.
Off-Platform Scams:Scammers use Telegram direct messages or suspicious links to lure you to a less secure website. This site may collect sensitive data or infect your device.
Telegram Bot Attacks:Scammers use Telegram bots to quickly target weak, genuine accounts. However, Telegram bot frauds happen.
Crypto Scams:
As Telegram has become a center for bitcoin and blockchain enthusiasts, scammers have targeted users. To drain Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum, and other digital currency, they want crypto wallet access.These examples hardly scratch the surface of Telegram frauds. More worrying is that Telegram fraudsters constantly come up with new ways to steal personal data from unwary users.
Fake Telegram Channels and Scams
Telegram groups and channels bring like-minded people together to talk and share ideas. Unfortunately, scammers have taken advantage of this by producing fake “copycat” copies of popular channels to deceive naïve consumers into fraud.
These bogus channels mimic crypto exchanges by using identical account names, profile images, and even pinned messages. Admins of these channels typically use similar usernames.
These fake channels first engage “users” in discussions about promotions, get-rich-quick schemes, and freebies, often targeting cryptocurrency enthusiasts with pre-launch token offerings.
However, users or administrators will soon try to get you to click on a link or divulge personal information for identity theft or account hacking.
How to Detect:Check whether a new Telegram channel is “broadcast only” by looking for a loudspeaker symbol next to its name.(
Report fake Telegram channels by clicking the three dots in the corner and choosing “Report.” Give reason.
Enable contact-only group and channel additions in your security settings. Go to “Settings,” “Privacy and Security,” and “Groups & Channels,” then change “Everyone” to “My Contacts.”)
Crypto Expert
Telegram is popular among bitcoin and blockchain aficionados. Unfortunately, fraudsters have taken advantage of this trend by posing as crypto experts to steal coins, money, or account credentials.
Cryptocurrency scams sometimes offer “guaranteed” returns. Scammers may react to Twitter comments or contact you on Telegram, promising a 50%+ return on investment with special bank accounts.
Once engaged, fraudsters will help you join their “exclusive” crypto exchange. They’ll offer graphs showing your investment’s growth. Before you can withdraw your “earnings,” the fraudster and your account disappear.
Scam Identification
In cryptocurrencies, ignore guaranteed returns claims.
Avoid “special” cryptocurrency exchanges, which are often scams.
Avoid sending money, bitcoin, or sensitive information to Telegram or other chat platform contacts.
Telegram bot phishing attacks
Telegram’s bot development and use is unique. Telegram bots like SMSRanger are used by scammers to mimic bank, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and mobile carrier agents to steal sensitive data.
After collecting a Telegram user’s phone number, the bot contacts them to get personal information, financial information, account credentials, passwords, and 2FA codes.
Telegram bot phishing uses a false feeling of urgency, faked phone numbers, grammatical problems, and demands for sensitive information.
Hang up and phone your bank or organization via their official number if you get an unwanted call.
Telegram scammers may contact you using third-party chat networks, so be wary.
How to Avoid Telegram Scams
Remember to watch all links, even those provided by friends whose accounts may be hijacked or by fake personas. In a highly utilized and accessible platform, you must take responsibility for your safety.
Common frauds include grammatical and spelling problems in messages or group descriptions, auto-delete messages to hide bogus bots, etc. Never share your login credentials or financial information on that or other networks. Beware of hostile messages or phony listings from Telegram, crypto-wallets, banks, or other financial organizations or websites that save your personal data.
Create a strong password to thwart account thieves. Create a complex combination of at least 10 characters, including capital and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid reuse of this password and use a password manager to safeguard your accounts and credentials.
Adjust privacy and group invite settings from the start of Telegram. For privacy, enable end-to-end encryption. Use a password, fingerprint/face ID, and two-step verification to increase security.
Your account’s email and phone number must be updated. This proactive approach verifies account ownership in case of identity theft or access issues.