Telegram Impersonation Scams
Scammers impersonate Telegram with fake account verification messages and fraudulent premium subscription offers. Telegram will never message you from an official account asking for your phone number or verification code.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Telegram's combination of pseudonymous accounts, large public channels, and end-to-end encryption makes it a platform both used by and impersonated in scams. Fraudsters create channels and bots that mimic official Telegram notifications, sending fake account verification requests or premium subscription prompts that steal credentials.
Telegram is also heavily used to run investment fraud, crypto scams, and romance fraud — impersonating financial services or even Telegram support itself to move victims into fraudulent schemes.
How scammers impersonate it
- Sending messages from fake 'Telegram' accounts claiming the user's account must be verified to avoid deletion
- Creating bots that mimic Telegram's official notification style to harvest phone numbers and codes
- Operating fake investment channels that appear to be endorsed by or associated with Telegram
- Impersonating Telegram Premium subscription support to steal payment details
- Sending phishing links in channels that mimic official Telegram announcements
What the real organisation never does
- Message you from an account named 'Telegram' to request account verification or a code
- Ask for your phone number or SMS verification code via an in-app message
- Offer investment returns or financial services through any official Telegram channel
- Request payment outside of the official Telegram Premium subscription flow within the app
Common red flags
- A message from an account named 'Telegram' or 'Telegram Support' asking you to verify your account
- Request for the SMS code sent to your phone from an in-app contact
- Channel claiming to offer guaranteed investment returns endorsed by Telegram
- Telegram Premium offer via a link rather than through the official in-app subscription
- Urgent message claiming your account will be deleted unless you act within hours
Sanitized example messages
Illustrative, sanitized examples. Personal details are replaced with placeholders such as [phone number] and [fake link].
In-app message: 'Telegram: Your account has been flagged for unusual activity. Please verify by sending us the code just sent to your phone.'
Channel message: 'Official Telegram Investment Programme: Verified members earn [percentage]% weekly. Join here: [scam link].'
How to verify
- Telegram's only official account is @Telegram — all other accounts claiming to be Telegram are fake
- Genuine Telegram system messages appear as service notifications, not as messages from another account
- Manage Telegram Premium only through Settings > Telegram Premium inside the official app
- Report fake Telegram accounts by forwarding the message to @notoscam
What to do if you're targeted
- Do not provide your phone number or verification code to any account claiming to be Telegram
- If your account was taken over, recover it by logging in via your phone number on a new device
- Report the fraudulent account to @notoscam and block the sender
Frequently asked questions
Is there an official Telegram support account that messages users?
Telegram's only official account is @Telegram, which sends service notifications — it does not send messages requesting verification codes or personal details. Any account claiming to be Telegram support is fake.