Fraud Through Telegram: Protect Your Personal Information

A familiar name or an organisation’s image on Telegram does not make a message trustworthy. Scammers may create fake profiles or use other people’s accounts to request money and personal information. Unexpected requests, prizes or offers of financial assistance therefore require verification.

Messages asking you to “vote in a competition,” “confirm your gift” or “prevent your account from being closed” may be attempts to obtain a secret code. Never send anyone your Telegram login code or enter it on an unfamiliar page. Read carefully why the code was sent. Urgent or official-looking wording does not make the request safe.

Enable two-step verification and secure your recovery email. Review the “Devices” section in settings and terminate unfamiliar sessions. Set a separate passcode to lock the application. These measures help protect your account, while caution with suspicious messages remains essential.

If someone you know asks for money, call them using a number you already have. Students and staff should also independently confirm unusual requests appearing to come from a manager, dean’s office or colleague. A profile photograph, name and familiar writing style do not replace verification.

Do not send passport copies, bank card details, passwords or verification codes to unknown bots or accounts. Do not install unfamiliar applications presented as documents or invitations. Before using a bot, check who operates it and why it requests information. Share personal details only with a verified service and only to the extent necessary.

If your account sends unauthorised messages and you still have access, terminate unfamiliar sessions and update your security settings. Warn your contacts through another channel. If banking information was exposed or money was transferred, contact your bank immediately. Preserve messages and payment records, and report the fraud to the police. Do not trust strangers requesting a secret code or advance payment to “recover your account.”