untrappable

Telegram scams: spot the fake group before you pay

Editorially reviewed · Last updated August 5, 2026

Yes — this is a scam. Telegram is a real messaging app, but an unsolicited group or DM that promises guaranteed returns, sends a login link, or asks for a code is a scam pattern.

Text Message · Today 2:17 PM
from Crypto Returns Club
Welcome to the VIP Telegram trading group. Guaranteed returns, zero risk. Add funds at telegram-vip-invest.net and send the verification code from your account.
The Text message, as received

Other versions you might get: An unsolicited crypto-investment group, a fake support or admin message, a login link that looks like Telegram or Microsoft, or a request to approve a device sign-in. The wording changes, but the goal is the same: get your money, credentials, or account code.

What to do right now

  1. Stop replying and do not tap the link. Do not argue with the sender or test the investment. Save the chat and any usernames, domains, wallet addresses, or payment instructions first.
  2. Open Telegram or the relevant account from its app or a bookmark you already trust. Do not use the message's sign-in page or a device-approval request to “check” what happened.
  3. Never share a password, verification code, or device approval. The FBI says attackers can use stolen authorization tokens to keep access after a phishing flow.
  4. Report and leave the chat. Use Telegram's report-spam controls, then report a financial or account-takeover attempt to IC3 and the FTC.
  5. If you entered credentials or approved a sign-in, secure the account now. Change the password from the real app or site, revoke unfamiliar sessions, turn on two-factor authentication, and keep the evidence.

How to make sure it never bites you

A Telegram scam may return through a new account after you block the first one. If money or account access moved, start with the bank or exchange that handled the payment, secure the affected account from its official app, and report the evidence before responding to anyone promising a refund.

Untrappable · Public service advisory

Stop the next one at the source

You got this because your details are on lists that get bought, sold, and leaked. You can't unspill that, but you can make it useless to a scammer. Start with the free steps — they do most of the work.

Optional — if you'd rather it was handled for you

If you'd rather have it watched for you, an identity-protection service monitors your accounts, SSN, and the dark web, warns you the moment something new appears, and helps you recover if someone gets through.

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Frequently asked

Is Telegram itself a scam?
No. Telegram is a real messaging app; the scam is the unsolicited message, group, or login flow abusing it. Treat the sender's identity and any investment promise as unverified until you check them independently.
Are Telegram investment groups with guaranteed returns real?
A guaranteed-return or zero-risk promise is a scam warning. The FTC says scammers use promises of big returns with little or no risk to promote fake cryptocurrency investments. Do not deposit money because a group shows screenshots or testimonials.
Why would a Telegram message ask for a Microsoft or device code?
It may be trying to steal an authorization token. The FBI has warned about phishing flows in which attackers send a link or device-code request, then use the approved sign-in to access the victim's account. Never approve a sign-in you did not start.
I clicked a Telegram login link. What should I do?
Close it and open the real app or site yourself. If you entered a password or approved a device, change the password, revoke unfamiliar sessions, enable two-factor authentication, and report the message. If money or identity information was involved, contact the relevant provider and file a report.
How do I report a Telegram scam?
Use Telegram's report-spam controls on the message or account, save the username and evidence, and report financial fraud to IC3 and reportfraud.ftc.gov. Do not keep chatting with the sender while you collect proof.

Related scams

Sources

A public service

Help protect someone else

Scams spread because people stay quiet about them. If this could have fooled you, it can fool someone you know — a parent, a friend, the family group chat. Passing it on is the easiest good thing you'll do today. It's safe to forward, and stands on its own as a record for a bank or the police.