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Telegram has grown rapidly in recent years, becoming one of the most widely used messaging platforms in the world. A 2025 Statista study found it has now overtaken several major social networks in monthly active users, with privacy-focused features contributing to its fast-growing popularity.
But with more users comes more attention from scammers. According to the latest available FTC data, around 9% of all social media scam reports involve Telegram — a sign that criminals see the platform as a valuable place to operate.
Telegram is a legitimate and popular app, but its design also makes it appealing to scammers. Features such as anonymous accounts, public channels, and bot-friendly tools give cyber criminals opportunities to contact users, share misleading links, and run scams with relatively few barriers.
This guide explains why Telegram scams are on the rise, the most common scams to look out for, and how to protect yourself.
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Why Telegram scams are growing
Telegram’s popularity has surged in recent years, largely because people are looking for private, flexible messaging platforms. The app is simple to use, allows anonymous accounts, and offers features like channels, groups, and cloud-based storage that make communication fast and convenient.
Privacy, however, can come with hidden risks. Telegram’s anonymity, light moderation, large global user base, and bot-friendly ecosystem make it a low-risk, high-reward environment for scammers. Scammers can create new accounts quickly, spread misleading messages at scale, or impersonate trusted groups with minimal friction.
F-Secure’s research has also shown how these features can be misused — including cases where scammers used Telegram to distribute malware or promote subscription scams in ways that were difficult for users to detect.
As more people join Telegram for community discussions, trading groups, marketplace activity, and customer support channels, the opportunities for scammers continue to grow. By staying alert and combining awareness with strong cyber security, you can keep your account and personal information safe.
Common Telegram scams
1. Crypto and investment scams
Crypto-related scams are some of the most common schemes on Telegram, largely because many investment communities operate in public or semi-public groups. Scammers take advantage of this by joining these groups, copying their tone, and pretending to offer legitimate tips or opportunities.
In many cases, scammers will message users directly after spotting them in a crypto or trading channel. They may pose as investment experts, customer-support agents, or even other community members offering “guaranteed returns,” early access to new tokens, or urgent opportunities that require quick action.
Some scammers also share links to fake trading platforms or investment dashboards that look convincing but are designed purely to steal deposits or personal information.
Common red flags
Someone contacts you privately after seeing you in a public group
Promises of high or guaranteed returns
Pressure to act quickly or “before a window closes”
Links to unfamiliar trading apps or websites
How to stay safe
Be cautious of anyone who messages you out of the blue about investments.
Avoid clicking links shared in group chats, especially if they claim to be from “support”.
Never transfer crypto to a wallet address you cannot verify.
Use security tools that block known scam sites or suspicious links.
Learn more about crypto scams from our article: How to identify and avoid crypto scams.
2. Giveaway and job-offer scams
Giveaway and job-offer scams are increasingly common on Telegram, largely because they rely on simple messages that appear friendly or helpful at first glance. Scammers often impersonate well-known brands, influencers, or recruitment teams, promising free prizes, exclusive rewards, or easy remote-work opportunities.
In giveaway scams, you may see a message claiming you’ve “won” something: usually cash, crypto, or high-value items. The catch is that you need to pay a small “release fee” or click a link to verify your details. Once you engage, scammers may push for more information or try to trick you into sending money.
Job-offer scams follow a similar pattern. Scammers promise flexible work, high hourly pay, or guaranteed income, then direct you to external links or ask for an upfront payment to “activate” your account or gain access to a training pack. These jobs don’t exist, and any money or personal details shared will end up in the hands of scammers.
Common red flags
Offers of prizes, rewards, or jobs you never applied for
Requests for upfront payments, deposits, or “registration fees”
Poorly worded messages claiming to be from large brands or HR teams
Pressure to move the conversation outside Telegram to email or WhatsApp
How to stay safe
Ignore and delete unexpected prize notifications or job offers.
Never pay for a job application, training, or prize “processing”.
Verify legitimate roles or promotions through official websites.
Avoid clicking links shared in giveaway channels or forwarded messages.
3. Tech support scams
Tech support scams on Telegram often start with a message that appears to come from an official service, such as a bank, a delivery company, a crypto exchange, or even Telegram itself. These messages usually claim that there’s a problem with your account — for example, suspicious login activity, a failed payment, or a security issue that needs urgent attention.
Scammers rely on the sense of urgency to get you to act quickly. They may share a link to a fake support page, ask you to “verify your identity,” or request remote access to your device under the guise of fixing the issue. Once you engage, they can steal passwords, install malware, or attempt to take control of your accounts.
Some scammers also join large public Telegram groups pretending to be moderators or support staff. They watch for users asking questions, then privately message them offering “help,” directing them to fake forms or phishing sites.
Common red flags
Messages claiming your account is locked, suspended, or compromised
Requests to share security codes, passwords, or recovery phrases
Links to support pages that don’t match official domains
Someone messaging you privately after you asked a question in a public group
How to stay safe
Never share login codes, passwords, or recovery keys with anyone.
Contact companies through their official websites — not through Telegram messages.
Avoid clicking on “support” links sent in private chats.
Be wary of anyone claiming to be staff or moderators unless verified by the platform.
Learn more about tech support scams.
How to avoid Telegram scams
Staying safe on Telegram largely comes down to recognizing the signs of a scam and taking a few simple steps to protect your account and personal information. While the platform offers useful privacy features, it also gives scammers room to operate — so putting the right safeguards in place is important.
Here are some practical ways to reduce your risk:
Be cautious with unknown contacts. If someone messages you out of the blue — even if they claim to be offering help, a job, or a prize — treat it with suspicion. Genuine organizations won’t reach out to you on Telegram unexpectedly.
Keep conversations inside verified channels. Avoid private discussions with people claiming to represent companies, crypto exchanges or support teams unless they’re clearly identified as official.
Never share sensitive information. No legitimate service will ever ask for your passwords, recovery phrases, one-time codes or remote access via Telegram.
Check links before clicking. Scam links may lead to fake login pages or malware downloads. Always open services directly — not through links sent in messages.
Review your privacy settings. Restrict who can see your phone number, prevent unknown users from adding you to groups, and disable automatic media downloads.
Use strong authentication. Enable two-step verification on your Telegram account and make sure your email account is equally secure, as this is often the gateway to account recovery.
While these steps can reduce your risk, even the most careful user can be caught out. That’s why using reliable protection tools that block malicious links and detect scam sites can offer an additional, automatic layer of defense.
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