Beware of Telegram Username Scam

[Ojima-ojo]

I got the same offer where they send you to the fragment.com as well but i tried logging in to the fragment using my telegram, there was no offer.

Also if they offer something big, they always want their own escrow which I don't think either. The amount is hard to ignore actually, just like OP he was offered 2000 TON all for the telegram username, that's really something. They offer me 700 TON, that's still big of a username. I have to ask why when they can create their own?

I don't actually understand the end result of this scam attempt. Is it to scam you and posses your telegram username or to make you send them some tons. Please clarify me.

The aim is to use such user names to scam people and scammers have advanced right now and their tactics have changed from what they used to be, scammers now offer a lot of mouth-watering offers to defraud their potential victims.


But the best and easiest way to escape all of this is by making sure you never allow your greedy tendencies to overpower you and make you feel that there is free and easy money anywhere.

[Peanutswar]

I received an offer like that a months before and its kinda weird because why do they need to buy your username instead they can create on their own reason why i immediately block the contact and delete the conversation. If you are actively using a telegram you can limit the number of message and calls from unknowns. Just go to Settings > Privacy and Security. You can see the list you want to limit. Ideal to use My Contacts only so you are aware who will reach you out.

[DYING_S0UL]

I don't actually understand the end result of this scam attempt. Is it to scam you and posses your telegram username or to make you send them some tons. Please clarify me.

It’s more about obtaining their target's Telegram username. Once they acquire it for free by tricking the user with a high auction offer, they can then use that previously owned username to scam others on Telegram, particularly the victim's contacts.

So there is no money directly involved but only the username? I haven't came across this kind of scam before, so I'm unsure of what the scammers are trying to gain here...

So for example, if there is no contact in your telegram (consider a private account), there is nothing to fear, right? even if the scammers gains access of your username? Since he cannot use the username to send DM's to anyone and ask for money, or pretending to be the original user!

And lastly why would anyone sell their username anyway! Personally I wouldn't, since it's my identity. Something that my friends and family are aware of or knows.

[PX-Z]

And lastly why would anyone sell their username anyway! Personally I wouldn't, since it's my identity. Something that my friends and family are aware of or knows.

Some businesses also use Telegram, and buying or selling usernames works similarly to trading premium handles on other social media platforms. This is especially common for branded businesses and trademarks when their desired username is already taken, leading them to purchase an existing one. While you can’t force someone to sell their username, a generous offer might make some reconsider.

[cabron]

I don't actually understand the end result of this scam attempt. Is it to scam you and posses your telegram username or to make you send them some tons. Please clarify me.

It’s more about obtaining their target's Telegram username. Once they acquire it for free by tricking the user with a high auction offer, they can then use that previously owned username to scam others on Telegram, particularly the victim's contacts.

So there is no money directly involved but only the username? I haven't came across this kind of scam before, so I'm unsure of what the scammers are trying to gain here...

So for example, if there is no contact in your telegram (consider a private account), there is nothing to fear, right? even if the scammers gains access of your username? Since he cannot use the username to send DM's to anyone and ask for money, or pretending to be the original user!

And lastly why would anyone sell their username anyway! Personally I wouldn't, since it's my identity. Something that my friends and family are aware of or knows.

There are auctions of username in fragment.com involving Ton tokens. There's a different economy in Telegram.

If a company want to own a username to build their reputation, they are willing to pay huge amount for a username. Lets say someone own a username @ikea, I think if IKEA company wants to provide support to telegram users, they will need to have this username and will likely contact the user who owns @ikea.  There is a price for everything and if the company offers $10,000. I think the person would sell the username.

[crwth]

I got offered for mine, and it was 2500 tons, which is definitely a lot but not a lot for my identity. I didn't know that this could be a scam because, upon checking the link, it looks like a fragment. But seeing this, it's really a tricky one because it's a link to a Telegram alert app notification bot, and it looks legit. I don't know how they did that, but it's tricky. It's good that I didn't push through with it.

The good thing about this experience is knowing there is Fragment, which is legitimate.

[ZAINmalik75]

It is very simple to realize that it is scam.

It might seem simple to me and you, but for someone who is new in all this and have recently started their journey in this industry, they will very easily fall for it because we know that newbies often get fooled when they see a lot of money is offered to them for something, they would even be ready to give anything for the amounts shown, and these scammers are too sharp that they make it look like you are not losing anything but you are going to gain a lot from what they're offering.

Telegram is the ultimate location for scammers because it offers a lot of features that makes it easy for scammers to fool vulnerable users and steal their money. This is the reason why I always ask newbies that I know to stay vigilant whenever they are using Telegram because due to Telegram mini-bots, most people are too much into Telegram these days.

[The Cryptovator]

It's hard for me to understand what exactly you want to explain. You are the seller for a Telegram username on Fragment, so the buyer needs to click the link instead to make an offer. So I am wondering why they will send you a link and why you should click there. There should be valid reasons to click or ask them for a link.

However, I just ignore Telegram DMs with something like offer, etc. I don't have enough time to read even such messages. Without any important messages, someone can't get a reply from me. If you are selling a username, it means you should be smart enough not to fall for such scam attempts. Just don't respond to random people.

[Catenaccio]

However, I just ignore Telegram DMs with something like offer, etc. I don't have enough time to read even such messages. Without any important messages, someone can't get a reply from me. If you are selling a username, it means you should be smart enough not to fall for such scam attempts. Just don't respond to random people.

It's fundametally rule for security. Avoiding files, links, media files like audios, videos from strangers, and even from people you know because their accounts can be hacked, compromised and used for sending you malicious things.

In Telegram, there are customized options in settings to turn off automatic download.
How to Disable Automatic Media Download on Telegram (Mobile & Desktop).

[serjent05]

It's hard for me to understand what exactly you want to explain. You are the seller for a Telegram username on Fragment, so the buyer needs to click the link instead to make an offer. So I am wondering why they will send you a link and why you should click there. There should be valid reasons to click or ask them for a link.

It is possible that the scammer is trying to phish the information of the said account and hack it from there by changing login information.  Or, the link might be loaded by malware and the moment the victim click the link, it will automatically download the malware to infect the victim's unit.

However, I just ignore Telegram DMs with something like offer, etc. I don't have enough time to read even such messages. Without any important messages, someone can't get a reply from me. If you are selling a username, it means you should be smart enough not to fall for such scam attempts. Just don't respond to random people.

True, it is best to ignore any anonymous DM (DMs from strangers), if one wanted to stay away from scams and hackers, it is best to disable any automatic download option on telegram or any other application.  And most of all, don't get swayed by greed.  I believe that is one of the best defenses against scammers.

[JoyMarsha]

It is very simple to realize that it is scam.

From telegram to Fragment websites, if people are simply careful, they won't be scammed. Being directed from Telegram to Fragment that I don't know what it is, people who were victims of this scam, are very careless practically.

For those who have never traded their usernames on fragment it is not as easy as you say. You may have the idea and knowledge that username are getting tarded on fragment so it's the valid platform. But you may never know that the person is scammer.

And it's not un usual that your getting offer for usernames. A lot of people do buy username for their business/personal liking . If your username not listed on fragment they won't be able to bid it. So that particular individual have to ask you to list it on fragment so you both can tarde.

This is my first time hearing that someone can trade their telegram username on fragment. It sounds surprising to me that someone could offer such.

If I ever receive any pm about that, whether the person is real or a scammer, I will quietly block the person asap because I can imagine selling my telegram username for pay when I know what my username will be used for to scam people. Someone can't offer to pay for a username without having a bad intention of getting more than the money they used to buy the telegram username.

[Innocant]

I don't actually understand the end result of this scam attempt. Is it to scam you and posses your telegram username or to make you send them some tons. Please clarify me.

Well actually target is not your username. Even if you are username isn't that much of unique they will offer you a happy amount of price. Basically what they do is they said that you have to keep some transaction fees to receive or make the deal. When you accept the offer and that action will take you to your wallet and ask you to connect the wallet and confirm the transaction. It may causes you to lose your wallet as well as your fund in that wallet.

I received an offer like that a months before and its kinda weird because why do they need to buy your username instead they can create on their own reason why i immediately block the contact and delete the conversation.

And lastly why would anyone sell their username anyway! Personally I wouldn't, since it's my identity. Something that my friends and family are aware of or knows.

Well it's not like that it isn't tradeable of your username. Think about it that you are starting your own business or a startups and pick up in name and you wants unique username and easy to remember but you found out that username is already pick up by someone else so what should you do.

One thing you will notice is that if your username is unique and simple, then your clients will be able to remember it easily and try to save themselves from those who try to scan by copying you.  So those who want to bill their startup or such business must try to find the easiest one.  And if you can buy a username from someone for a small cost then isn't it profitable for you Telegram has officially launched the username train option with Fragment.

It goes without saying that everything has a price.  If you are willing to pay the right price then of course it is a sale.  Many of us use usernames or choose Rand only.  Usernames may not be that important to us, but may be to many.

After all it is up to you whether you want to sell your username or not.

If I ever receive any pm about that, whether the person is real or a scammer, I will quietly block the person asap because I can imagine selling my telegram username for pay when I know what my username will be used for to scam people. Someone can't offer to pay for a username without having a bad intention of getting more than the money they used to buy the telegram username.

If you sell your username through Fragment then you have no liability for that username.  So what happens with that username later has nothing to do with you.

[knowngunman]

It seems this trick is becoming rampant on telegram. I have published similar thread before here https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5525547.msg64926637#msg64926637 where the scammer used similar method. In as much as this scam method is obvious due to huge amounts offer to purchase just a username, some gullible people will still fall into the trap because of greediness. The earlier we reduce our greed, I think the better for us. This your thread is the third one I'm seeing on telegram Username scam including my own.

[DYING_S0UL]

...snip...When you accept the offer and that action will take you to your wallet and ask you to connect the wallet and confirm the transaction. It may causes you to lose your wallet as well as your fund in that wallet.

Who uses wallet from Telegram anyway?! It known as the den for scammers! So I never created any wallet or accepted any telegram bot that can be used as a wallet. Simply put, no wallet means nothing to connect means nothing to lose.

If you sell your username through Fragment then you have no liability for that username.  So what happens with that username later has nothing to do with you.

How does telegram ensures that you have no liability (I am unaware of the relation between tg and fragment)..? Suppose you are a person of a big identity, for example a reputable member of Bitcointalk. And someone offers you a massive amount for your username, which is tempting and you actually sold it. After a while the person who bought the username scams forums members pretending to be the original user. So how does that work? Who should we blame? Of course, we are not stupid, so even if we sell the username we might announce that hey guys I sold my username. But those who aren't aware, could be a potential victim? Don't you think this is concerning? Everything i said above is theoretical only, but the sky is limitless and anything is possible...

[arwin100]

...snip...When you accept the offer and that action will take you to your wallet and ask you to connect the wallet and confirm the transaction. It may causes you to lose your wallet as well as your fund in that wallet.

Who uses wallet from Telegram anyway?! It known as the den for scammers! So I never created any wallet or accepted any telegram bot that can be used as a wallet. Simply put, no wallet means nothing to connect means nothing to lose.

Unfortunately there are many people using it, especially those people who usually join on airdrops. Since they think its more convenient for them to have some balance on that wallet so that they can do their thing. Then this is what been take advantage by those scammers and try to hit them with those scams offers they made to those innocent people.

That's why its really better for people not to pay attention with any random messages they receive and immediately block them so that there's no scamming situation would harm them. Telegram is dangerous platform for newbie that's why they should exert good efforts to determine what is scam and what is not. Also they should not let their greed over come and always think about what's more better for them.

[Innocant]

Who uses wallet from Telegram anyway?

I didn't mentioned to use Telegram wallet , You can use any wallet it will redirect there. But do you know telegram has it's own inbuilt wallet, you don't need to rely on 3rd party wallet bot.
 

How does telegram ensures that you have no liability (I am unaware of the relation between tg and fragment)..? Suppose you are a person of a big identity, for example a reputable member of Bitcointalk. And someone offers you a massive amount for your username, which is tempting and you actually sold it. After a while the person who bought the username scams forums members pretending to be the original user. So how does that work? Who should we blame? Of course, we are not stupid, so even if we sell the username we might announce that hey guys I sold my username. But those who aren't aware, could be a potential victim? Don't you think this is concerning? Everything i said above is theoretical only, but the sky is limitless and anything is possible...

Telegram username actually don't works like this. If you sold a username it will act like a collectible and it will transfer to buyer through blockchain. If you're not the owner of it why it's upon you that you're the one to blame.

And besides if you sold your username you no longer able to own that username again. So you have the rights to defend you.

[lovesmayfamilis]

I've said it maybe a 1000 times already on the forum.
Treat any TG message you get as a SCAM. Period. Stick by this rule and you'll avoid 99.9999% scams.

People aren't good. No one wants to help you out. They just want to use you

I strongly agree. You don't even need to read such giant topics, because if you entirely ignore any stranger, you are in no danger. Buying or selling something via Telegram these days is equivalent to falling into the clutches of scammers yourself. Just ignore and blacklist, complaining about spam. People make their own lives more difficult by being not only curious but also greedy.

[AmaGold70]

I've said it maybe a 1000 times already on the forum.
Treat any TG message you get as a SCAM. Period. Stick by this rule and you'll avoid 99.9999% scams.

People aren't good. No one wants to help you out. They just want to use you

Exactly, I'm always cautious with any message I receive especially from strangers on telegram. I've recorded many stories of people being scammed on TG so just to be safe than sorry, I treat every message from strangers as scam, indeed people are not good, everyone is trying to rip you off your hard earned assets. These notorious scammed are coming up with smarter ways to scam people and the fake offers they present are always good and it takes gullible people off guard.

[puloweh555]

I also quite often get fishy things like this, I was once offered to be part of a team in a Ponzi project but I refused even though they promised to give me 1 ton per day.

Fake accounts are the ones that often appear on Telegram, they impersonate and claim to be from big companies or prominent people, there is no big reason to trust the impersonation of the account, just ignore all their fishy offers.

In recent years, there have been many cases of fraud through the Telegram application in the name of a large company, a developer of a crypto project or others. Maybe many have become victims and those who become victims are usually those who are greedy and do not have good education so that they are easily tempted by this big profit which makes them immediately interested even though they have actually fallen into the trap of a fraudster.

The most common mode is when we as Telegram users are suddenly included in an investment group or crypto group. Even though we never asked to join, suddenly we are already in the group and many chats come in on behalf of developers from a particular project. So this mode should be avoided and it is better to leave the group and just ignore it.
Because believe me in the crypto world, fraud modes continue to grow from day to day, there have been many victims with very large values. So as you said, it is very true, just ignore all suspicious offers when someone chats or enters the group.

[albon]

Also, in addition to what the OP mentioned,, if any of you are members of Telegram groups for certain projects, you might come across suspicious messages like the one in the attached screenshot:



● Scammers are trying to lure Telegram users with an airdrop they claim to be offering, promising each user 75 TON for joining their scam Telegram bot and following the bot's instructiions.

● They also claim to offer a $49 bonus, making it a limited-time offer for those who use a promo code. The scammers direct users to check their bio to open a link they’ve placed, which in reality is a phishing link to a gambling website.

Therefore, everyone should be cautious. Scammers are purchasiing Telegram's premium subscription to make their scam more convincing. Don't trust what they send. Also, if you see such a message in a DM, block the user and report them as spam immediately.