Giveaway Scams on Telegram
Fraudsters use Telegram channels and group chats to run fake gaming and prize giveaways, using bots to automate winner selection and directing victims to phishing pages or wallet-draining links.
Part of: Twitch & Discord Giveaway Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Telegram's large group and channel functionality, combined with its reputation for privacy and its prevalence in cryptocurrency and gaming communities, makes it a favoured platform for large-scale giveaway fraud. Operators can broadcast messages to channels with hundreds of thousands of subscribers, many of whom joined specifically to receive deal alerts and giveaway notifications.
The automation Telegram permits through its bot API allows scammers to simulate sophisticated prize mechanics — entry bots, countdown timers, winner announcements — that look indistinguishable from a professionally managed promotion. The absence of an account verification system means anyone can create a channel mimicking a recognised brand.
How this scam works on Telegram
A Telegram channel impersonating a game studio, gaming peripheral brand, or popular streamer announces a giveaway in which subscribers must forward the message to five contacts and click a bot link to register. The bot collects a Telegram phone number and email address before announcing a 'winner' who must claim via an external link. The external link either harvests credit card details or, in cryptocurrency giveaway variants, requests a small wallet transfer to 'verify the receiving address'.
Group-based variants involve scammers joining popular gaming groups and posting a giveaway announcement. A secondary account in the group then 'confirms' the legitimacy, and a bot handles 'registration' — automating the credential or wallet harvest.
Some Telegram scams target users who have already been defrauded elsewhere: a 'recovery agent' offers to reclaim lost prizes from a previous scam in exchange for an upfront fee, compounding the original loss.
Common red flags
- Channel claims to represent a well-known brand but has no verified link from the brand's official website
- Giveaway entry requires forwarding the message to a specific number of contacts
- Bot asks for your phone number, email, or cryptocurrency wallet address as part of entry
- Prize claim step involves sending any amount of cryptocurrency to 'verify' a receiving wallet
- Sudden spike in channel subscriber count suggests bulk bot additions
- Messages use urgent language such as 'only 2 hours to claim your prize'
How to protect yourself
- Join brand-related Telegram channels only through links on the brand's verified official website
- Never send cryptocurrency of any amount to claim a prize — this is always a scam
- Do not forward chain messages to enter giveaways; legitimate promotions do not require this
- Review a Telegram channel's post history before engaging — scam channels typically have a short history focused entirely on giveaway posts
- Enable Telegram's two-step verification to protect your account if your phone number is exposed
How to report it
- Report the channel or bot to Telegram by forwarding a message to @notoscam or using the three-dot menu report feature
- Alert the legitimate brand whose identity is being used through their official support channels
- If a cryptocurrency transfer was made, report the wallet address to relevant chain analytics and your national cybercrime authority
Frequently asked questions
A 'recovery agent' on Telegram offered to get back money I lost in a previous giveaway scam for a fee — is this legitimate?
No, this is a common follow-up scam that specifically targets people who have already been defrauded. Never pay an upfront fee to someone promising to recover lost funds; report both incidents to Telegram and your national cybercrime authority instead.
Why do these giveaway bots ask me to forward the message to several friends before I can register?
Forwarding requirements are a viral distribution tactic that spreads the scam to new potential victims through your own contact network. Legitimate giveaways never require you to forward messages as a condition of entry.
Is it safe to give a Telegram bot my phone number just to enter a giveaway?
Treat your phone number as sensitive personal information — providing it can expose you to further targeted scams, spam, or even SIM-swap attempts if the channel is malicious. Verify the channel's legitimacy against the brand's official website before providing any contact details.
Are all gaming giveaway Telegram channels fraudulent?
No, but verification is essential. Legitimate brand channels are listed on official websites, post a variety of content beyond just giveaways, and never ask for payment or wallet transfers to claim prizes. If a channel exists solely to run giveaways and asks for financial action to claim, it is almost certainly fraudulent.