Telegram groups and dating bots are full of real people, but also of fake profiles and scammers. Learning to recognise them takes only a few minutes and can save you money and problems.

Signs of a fake profile

• Very attractive photos that look professional or are taken from Instagram. Do a reverse image search to check them.
• A new account with no username, no bio or a strange name full of emojis.
• They write to you first, in private, right after you join a group.
• They avoid video calls or voice messages with excuses.
• The story changes: age, city or job do not match what they said before.

The most common scams

• Romance scams: after days or weeks of chatting, they ask for money for an emergency, a ticket or a visa.
• Investment and crypto scams: a “friend” shows you how much they earn trading and invites you to a platform.
• Fake verification: they ask you to “verify” yourself by paying or sending a code. Never share the login code Telegram sends you.
• Sextortion: they ask for intimate photos and then threaten to share them.
• Fake admins and support: Telegram support will never write to you to ask for your password or code.

What to do if you suspect a scam

1. Stop answering and do not send anything.
2. Block the user and use Report in their profile.
3. Tell the group admins so they can ban the account.
4. If you have already sent money, contact your bank and the police.

Meet people safely

Read our guide on how to use Telegram safely and choose moderated places like the ones in our list of groups for chatting and dating and dating bots.