Top 11 Telegram Scams in 2025: Complete Protection Guide

With more than 800 million active users, Telegram has become one of the world’s most popular messaging platforms. Unfortunately, its popularity and enhanced security features have also made it a prime target for scammers and cybercriminals. This comprehensive guide explores the most dangerous Telegram scams of 2025, how to identify them, and the steps you can take to protect your personal information and financial assets.

What are Telegram Scams?

Telegram scams are deceptive schemes that operate within the Telegram messaging platform or use it as a gateway to lure victims to malicious third-party sites. Scammers are attracted to Telegram because of its massive user base, minimal signup requirements (only a phone number is needed), and features like anonymous messaging and bot capabilities.

According to cybersecurity reports, Telegram-based scams increased by 43% in 2024, with financial losses exceeding $200 million globally. These scams range from traditional phishing attempts to highly sophisticated bot-powered operations masquerading as legitimate customer service or investment opportunities.

The most common Telegram scam methods include:

• Phishing attacks – Scammers pose as trusted contacts or support agents to trick victims into revealing sensitive personal information
• Off-platform fraud – Directing users away from Telegram to malicious websites that steal information or distribute malware
• Bot-powered scams – Using automated Telegram bots to target vulnerable users at scale (in 2020, Telegram blocked approximately 350,000 bot accounts for fraudulent activities)
• Cryptocurrency fraud – Targeting crypto enthusiasts with fake investment opportunities, exchange platforms, or wallet access schemes

As Telegram continues to grow in popularity, scammers develop increasingly sophisticated methods to exploit unsuspecting users. Recent research by Intel 471 identified dangerous malware like the X-Files bot that can steal passwords, session cookies, login credentials, and even credit card details from Telegram users. Let’s examine the top 11 Telegram scams you need to watch out for in 2025.

1. Fake Telegram Channels and Groups

Telegram channels and groups are community spaces where users with shared interests gather. Unfortunately, scammers frequently create convincing “copycat” versions of popular channels to trap unsuspecting victims.

These imposter channels meticulously mimic legitimate ones, featuring nearly identical:

• Channel names and profile images
• Anchored posts and content format
• Administrator accounts with similar or identical usernames
• Active “user” discussions (often about cryptocurrency promotions or investment opportunities)

How to Identify Fake Telegram Channels

When you join a new Telegram group, check if you can send messages. If that option is unavailable, it’s a “broadcast-only” channel where only administrators can post messages. While this isn’t inherently suspicious (many legitimate channels are broadcast-only), it’s an important feature to understand when evaluating a channel’s authenticity.

Protection Tips:

• Report suspicious channels and impostor accounts to Telegram
• Adjust your privacy settings to prevent anyone from adding you to groups without your permission
• Verify official channels through the organization’s website or other trusted sources
• Be wary of channels that pressure you to make financial decisions quickly

2. Telegram Crypto Expert Scams

Telegram has become the preferred platform for cryptocurrency enthusiasts and investors, which unfortunately makes it a prime target for crypto scammers. These criminals pose as cryptocurrency experts or investment advisors, promising guaranteed returns on investments.

The typical approach involves:

1. Scammers contact potential victims through Telegram, often after seeing them post in legitimate crypto groups
2. They claim to offer “guaranteed” returns (often 30-50% or more)
3. They show screenshots or charts of supposed successful trades
4. They convince victims to open accounts at “special” or “exclusive” crypto exchanges
5. Initial small investments may show profits to build trust
6. After larger investments are made, the scammers disappear completely

In one documented case, a victim sent $50 in Bitcoin to a fake exchange and quickly saw a $30 “profit.” Convinced, he encouraged several friends to invest their savings. After his friends transferred significant amounts, the fake broker vanished with all the funds.

How to Spot Crypto Expert Scams

According to FBI estimates, approximately 25,000 people fell victim to cryptocurrency fraud last year, with losses approaching $1 billion. The promise of “guaranteed” returns or access to “special” exchanges are reliable indicators of cryptocurrency investment fraud on Telegram.

Protection Tips:

• Ignore anyone who claims to guarantee investment returns, especially with cryptocurrencies
• Avoid “special” or “exclusive” cryptocurrency exchanges that aren’t widely known
• Never send money or cryptocurrency to someone you’ve only communicated with on messaging platforms
• Research all investment opportunities thoroughly before committing any funds

3. Phishing with Telegram Bots

Telegram’s open platform allows users to create and deploy bots, which scammers exploit for sophisticated phishing operations. These bots use natural language processing and AI to engage in convincing conversations, making it difficult to distinguish them from real customer support agents.

In one notable scheme, hackers utilized the SMSRanger bot to impersonate representatives from major financial services like banks, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal. Security forums report these bots achieve approximately 80% success rates when victims answer their calls. Alarmingly, these bot services can be purchased for as little as $300 per month, making them accessible to many would-be scammers.

A particularly dangerous bot called X-Files has been identified by Intel 471 researchers. This malware can steal passwords, session cookies, login credentials, and credit card details from unsuspecting Telegram users, creating significant security risks.

How to Identify Bot-Powered Phishing

Telegram bot scams display the classic signs of phishing attacks:

• Creating a false sense of urgency
• Communications from unusual or suspicious phone numbers
• Grammatical errors and awkward phrasing
• Requests for sensitive information like passwords or account numbers
• Pressure to take immediate action

Protection Tips:

If you receive a call from someone claiming to represent your bank or another financial institution, hang up and call the organization directly using their official phone number. Remember that scammers can spoof caller IDs to make their calls appear legitimate.

Legitimate companies never contact customers through Telegram or other third-party messaging platforms for account verification or financial matters.

4. Telegram Tech Support Scams

Tech support scams on Telegram involve fake accounts that impersonate legitimate customer service representatives. These scammers use sophisticated bots to monitor groups and channels for specific keywords, then contact potential victims claiming to offer technical assistance.

During these interactions, scammers typically:

• Request sensitive account information under the guise of verification
• Charge fees for “premium” support services
• Request remote access to your device to “fix” issues
• Pressure you to make payments to “upgrade” or “verify” your account

How to Identify Tech Support Scams

If you’re experiencing issues with a service or platform, always initiate contact through official channels rather than responding to unsolicited support offers. Be especially cautious of accounts that contact you first with support offers or those that charge for assistance that should be provided for free.

Protection Tips:

• Verify account usernames against displayed names (they should match)
• Report suspicious accounts to both Telegram and the company being impersonated
• Never pay for support services unless you’re absolutely certain they’re legitimate
• Contact companies directly through their official websites when you need support

5. Cryptocurrency Giveaway Scams

Fake giveaways are among the oldest scam tactics, now adapted for Telegram and cryptocurrency. In these schemes, bots or users claim to offer prizes from well-known companies (such as Amazon, Apple, or cryptocurrency exchanges like Binance or Coinbase).

To claim the supposed prize, victims must typically:

• Provide banking details and personal information
• Pay a “processing fee” or “verification deposit”
• Submit cryptocurrency wallet credentials
• Complete “verification” processes that steal personal data

How to Identify Cryptocurrency Giveaway Scams

While legitimate companies occasionally run promotions and giveaways, unsolicited offers of free cryptocurrency or prizes you never entered to win are almost certainly fraudulent. If you’re unsure about a promotion, contact the company directly through their official website to verify its legitimacy.

Protection Tips:

• Never pay fees to claim prizes, especially through cryptocurrency or payment apps like Zelle, Venmo, or Cash App
• Block and report accounts offering unsolicited prizes or giveaways
• Remember that legitimate giveaways never require payment to participate or claim prizes
• Verify any promotion through the company’s official website or social media accounts

6. Fake Admin Accounts

While Telegram usernames must be unique, scammers create accounts with names that closely resemble official administrators or support staff. These accounts often contact users after they post questions in public groups, offering to “help” resolve issues.

Their actual goals typically include:

• Gaining access to your account through verification codes or passwords
• Directing you to phishing sites that mimic legitimate login pages
• Collecting personal information under the pretense of account verification
• Installing malware on your device through deceptive downloads

How to Identify Fake Admin Accounts

Pay close attention to account names, looking for subtle misspellings or letter substitutions. For example, “TichSupport” instead of “TechSupport,” or “BitgetToken” instead of “bitgetEN.” Sometimes the username may be hidden entirely. Be particularly cautious of users who initiate private messages rather than responding publicly in a group.

Protection Tips:

• Never share personal information or passwords in direct messages
• Search the group for previous messages from users who contact you privately — if none exist, they’re likely imposters
• Report fraudulent accounts to both Telegram and the company being impersonated
• Remember that legitimate administrators typically respond in public channels first

7. Classiscam: Fake Classified AD Scams

The “Classiscam” scheme is a sophisticated Telegram-based fraud operation that has netted criminals over $6.5 million from victims. These scams involve creating fake listings for popular consumer electronics on classified ad sites, then directing interested buyers to continue the transaction via Telegram.

The complete scam typically operates as follows:

1. Scammers create attractive listings for products like laptops, cameras, or iOS devices on popular marketplace sites
2. The listing directs potential buyers to Telegram for “faster communication”
3. On Telegram, the victim connects with a bot designed to steal personal information
4. Alternatively, the scammer sends a link to a fake marketplace page that mimics legitimate sites like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist
5. To “complete” the purchase, victims are asked for their address, credit card details, and other personal information

How to Identify Classiscam Operations

Watch for red flags in online marketplace listings, such as suspiciously low prices and sellers who insist on communicating through Telegram rather than the platform’s built-in messaging system. If directed to an external website, check for design inconsistencies, spelling or grammar errors, and unsecured URLs (those beginning with “http://” rather than “https://”).

Protection Tips:

• Always inspect items in person before purchasing when possible
• Use secure payment platforms that offer buyer protection, such as PayPal or credit cards
• Never continue marketplace transactions on Telegram or other messaging platforms
• Be skeptical of deals that seem too good to be true

8. “Pump And Dump” in Telegram Crypto Channels

“Pump and dump” schemes involve artificially inflating the price of an asset (usually a cryptocurrency with a small market cap) through coordinated buying, then selling it at the inflated price before it crashes. On Telegram, these schemes operate through dedicated channels where administrators claim to have “insider knowledge” about upcoming price movements.

These scams often take the following structure:

• Channel administrators acquire a position in a little-known cryptocurrency
• They promote the cryptocurrency to channel members, creating artificial buying pressure
• As prices rise due to coordinated buying, the administrators sell their holdings
• The price subsequently collapses, leaving regular investors with significant losses
• Many channels charge “VIP membership” fees, creating a double revenue stream for scammers

How to Identify Pump and Dump Schemes

These fraudulent Telegram channels often describe themselves as “signal groups” and create a sense of urgency to pressure members into acting quickly. They typically emphasize the fear of missing out (FOMO) on supposedly lucrative opportunities and make grandiose claims about potential returns.

Protection Tips:

• Be skeptical of investment advice that creates artificial time pressure
• Research the track record of any investment group before participating
• Avoid cryptocurrencies with very low market capitalization and trading volume
• Remember that coordinated price manipulation schemes are illegal in most jurisdictions

9. Fake Job Offers on Telegram

Job scams have proliferated across professional networking platforms, with many now incorporating Telegram as part of their operation. Scammers post attractive job listings with appealing salaries and flexible working conditions, requiring only that interested applicants contact a “hiring manager” through Telegram.

Once in contact with the supposed hiring manager, victims may be asked to:

• Provide sensitive personal information like Social Security numbers or banking details
• Pay for training materials, software, or equipment
• Complete “test projects” that actually constitute unpaid work
• Cash fraudulent checks and return portions of the funds

How to Identify Fake Job Scams

Most fake job scams follow a similar pattern: the terms are too good to be true, the interview process is unusually brief or informal, and communication shifts quickly to Telegram. While legitimate employers might request personal information like Social Security numbers, this typically occurs after a formal offer and through secure, official channels—not via messaging apps.

Protection Tips:

Watch for common indicators that a job offer is fraudulent, such as abbreviated interview processes, immediate job offers, or requests for payment. Never provide sensitive personal information until you’ve verified the legitimacy of the employer and received an official employment contract.

10. “Friend in Need” Scams

In “friend in need” scams, criminals gather information about your contacts from social media or data breaches, then impersonate these individuals on Telegram to request emergency financial assistance. They might claim to be in dire circumstances, such as being stranded while traveling, involved in an accident, or facing unexpected medical bills.

How to Identify “Friend in Need” Scams

Pay attention to the language and communication style. Does it match how your friend typically communicates? Are there unusual phrases or grammatical structures that seem out of character? Additionally, consider the urgency of the request—would your friend typically ask for financial help without providing context or through a messaging platform rather than a phone call?

Protection Tips:

• Verify the request by contacting your friend through another communication channel
• Ask personal questions that only the real person would know (and that aren’t available on social media)
• If you confirm it’s a scammer, block the account and alert the real person about the impersonation
• Inform mutual friends about the scam to prevent them from becoming targets

11. Telegram Romance Scams

Romance scams involve criminals establishing romantic relationships with victims to exploit their emotions for financial gain. On Telegram, these scams often focus on developing quick emotional connections and requesting financial assistance or explicit content that can later be used for blackmail.

Common scenarios include:

• Scammers claiming they need money for emergencies, travel expenses, or visa applications to visit the victim
• Requests for gift cards or digital payments to overcome supposed obstacles
• Soliciting compromising photos or videos, which are then used for blackmail
• Creating elaborate backstories about being wealthy but temporarily unable to access funds

One Reddit user described an interaction with a scammer on Telegram who claimed she couldn’t meet because she was babysitting and requested a Steam gift card to keep the children occupied. Gift cards are particularly popular in scams because they function as untraceable currency.

How to Identify Romance Scams

Romance scammers typically avoid in-person meetings and video calls, providing various excuses for why they can’t connect face-to-face. They often attempt to escalate emotional intimacy rapidly, sometimes sending intimate photos (usually stolen from other accounts) to encourage reciprocation. The most telling sign is when they begin requesting money or financial assistance.

Protection Tips:

• Never send money to someone you’ve only met online, regardless of their story
• Be cautious about sharing personal information, even seemingly innocent details about your family or work
• Insist on video calls before developing serious emotional connections
• Perform reverse image searches on profile pictures to check if they’ve been stolen from elsewhere

Complete Telegram Scam Prevention Guide

Protecting yourself from Telegram scams requires vigilance and proper security practices. Here are comprehensive strategies to safeguard your information and finances:

Optimize Your Telegram Security Settings

• Enable two-step verification (2FA) – Add an additional password for accessing your account
• Configure privacy settings – Limit who can see your phone number, add you to groups, or call you
• Set up passcode lock – Add a PIN or biometric authentication for accessing the app
• Enable login notification alerts – Get notified when your account is accessed from a new device
• Create a strong password – Use a unique, complex password combining uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols
• Use a password manager – Consider using a password manager to generate and store strong, unique passwords

General Security Practices

• Verify before trusting – Never trust unsolicited messages, even if they appear to come from friends
• Use secret chats – For sensitive conversations, use Telegram’s end-to-end encrypted secret chat feature
• Keep your app updated – Always install the latest Telegram updates to benefit from security improvements
• Be skeptical of links – Avoid clicking links from unknown sources or those that seem suspicious
• Never share verification codes – Legitimate organizations will never ask for Telegram login codes
• Maintain current contact information – Keep your phone number up to date to facilitate account recovery
• Report suspicious activity – Use Telegram’s reporting features to flag scammers and fraudulent groups
• Check usernames carefully – Verify the exact spelling of usernames, as scammers often use similar-looking characters

By implementing these security measures and staying informed about the latest scam tactics, you can enjoy Telegram’s communication benefits while minimizing your risk of falling victim to fraud. Remember that new scam methods emerge regularly, so maintaining a healthy skepticism toward unsolicited contacts and offers is your best defense.