Telegram Scams in India: Spot the Red Flags Before Your Money Disappears
Telegram has become that app for many of us — work updates, exam groups, crypto tips, “part-time jobs”, even neighbourhood deals. But in 2025, it’s also turned into a playground for scammers.
India has been seeing thousands of online fraud complaints every single day, with investment and job-related scams causing massive losses. In just the first four months of 2024 alone, Indians reportedly lost around ₹1,760 crore to cyber frauds, much of it through social media and messaging apps.
Telegram makes it easy for fraudsters to hide behind fake names, disposable numbers, and big groups. Let’s break down how these scams work, what to watch out for, and how you can protect yourself — with a little help from tools like Fintolit.
Why do scammers love Telegram?
Scammers prefer Telegram for scams because:
- They can quickly create new accounts with virtual numbers and vanish after a scam.
- Large broadcast groups and channels make it easy to target thousands at once.
- People tend to trust group chats that look “active” and “professional”.
- Telegram supports file sharing, links, and bots, which scammers use to send fake apps and phishing pages.
Now, let’s look at the most common Telegram scams in India right now.
1. “Part-Time Job” & Task-Based Earning Scams: You get added to a Telegram group or receive a DM offering easy work from home — like rating products, liking YouTube videos or doing “Amazon tasks”. At first, they pay small amounts. Then they push you to “invest” to unlock higher tasks and you start losing money.
Real examples:
- A Chennai woman lost ₹7.7 lakh in a Telegram job scam after being lured with a work-from-home offer.
- In another case, a victim from Zirakpur lost ₹85,000 after being added to a Telegram “Amazon task” group that initially credited small rewards, then demanded higher payments.
How to protect yourself
- Any “job” that asks you to pay first or invest is a scam. Legit jobs pay you, not the other way round.
- Don’t join unknown Telegram groups claiming “₹5,000/day from home” or “no skill required”.
- Never share PAN, Aadhaar, or bank details for such jobs.
- If you’ve already paid, stop immediately, collect all screenshots and report on 1930 or cybercrime.gov.in.
2. Investment & Trading / Crypto Scams: You’re added to a group that looks like a stock/crypto tips community with charts, “analysts” and fake profits screenshots. They ask you to deposit money in a “trading wallet” or via UPI. You see fake profits on a website/app, but when you try to withdraw, you’re blocked.
Recent patterns:
- Cybercrime units have busted Telegram-based crypto and investment scam networks involving lakhs of rupees and fake trading platforms.
- In 2025, a Bengaluru techie lost around ₹44 lakh after being guided from Telegram to WhatsApp groups and fake stock trading platforms.
How to protect yourself
- If someone on Telegram is promising “guaranteed returns” or “100% profit, no risk”, assume it’s a scam.
- Only invest via SEBI-registered brokers and verified platforms — not links sent on chats.
- Don’t trust screenshots of “earnings” or “profit withdrawals” — they’re easy to fake.
- Before investing anywhere new, talk to a trusted advisor or use a finance app like Fintolit to track and rethink impulsive transfers.
3. “Digital Arrest”, Police & Income Tax Impersonation: You get a Telegram call or message from someone claiming to be from the police, CBI, cyber cell, courier company, or Income Tax. They say a parcel in your name contains illegal items, or your number is involved in a crime. They threaten “digital arrest” and demand money to “settle” the case.
Law enforcement has flagged rising incidents of such “digital arrest” scams, where fraudsters impersonate officials through calls and online platforms, extorting money by creating fear.
How to protect yourself
- Remember: Real police or government officials don’t demand money on Telegram or UPI.
- If someone threatens arrest or legal action on chat, disconnect and call your local police station or official helpline directly.
- Never share KYC documents or OTPs over Telegram, even if the profile photo looks official.
4. Fake Customer Support & Brand Impersonation: You tweet or post about an issue with your bank, wallet, airline or e-commerce app. A “support team” reaches out on Telegram or DM, sharing a link or asking you to chat with them on Telegram to “resolve your issue”. They then ask for card numbers, PIN, OTP or remote access to your phone.
Security experts have seen a rise in fake support handles imitating brands and shifting conversations to encrypted messengers like Telegram to avoid being traced.
How to protect yourself
- Never trust “support” accounts that approach you first.
- Only use official customer care numbers or in-app support.
- No genuine support agent will ask for PIN, full card number, CVV, or OTP.
- Don’t install apps or click links sent on Telegram claiming “instant resolution”.
5. KYC / Bank & UPI Verification Scams: You receive a Telegram message: “Your KYC is pending. Your bank / UPI ID will be blocked in 24 hours. Click here / contact this Telegram ID to update KYC.” If you follow through, they either make you install a screen-sharing app or redirect you to a phishing page to steal login details and OTPs.
How to protect yourself
- Banks do not do KYC over Telegram.
- For any KYC message, ignore the link. Visit your bank’s official app, website, or branch instead.
- If you clicked something and suspect fraud, immediately:
👉 Turn on airplane mode.
👉 Call your bank and block cards/UPI.
👉 Report on 1930 / cybercrime.gov.in.
6. Sextortion & Intimate-Photo Blackmail: You connect with someone through a dating app or random message. They shift the chat to Telegram, send explicit photos or videos and convince you to do the same or join a video call. Later, they threaten to leak morphed or recorded content to your family or social media unless you pay.
How to protect yourself
- Never share intimate content with strangers online — not on Telegram, not anywhere.
- If threatened, do not pay. Paying once usually leads to more demands.
- Immediately: block, take screenshots, and file a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930.
Inform a trusted friend or family member; don’t suffer alone in silence.
Some Simple Rules to Stay Safe from Telegram Scams
👉If you remember just one section, let it be this 10 Golden Rules
👉 If money is involved, move slow. No rush, no urgency — take a pause.
👉 Never pay to get a job, task, or loan. That’s almost always a scam.
👉 Avoid investing via links shared on Telegram groups. Stick to known, regulated platforms.
👉 Don’t share OTPs, PINs, or full card details with anyone on chat.
👉 Don’t send intimate photos/videos to strangers. Once sent, you lose control.
👉 Ignore KYC / “account blocked” alerts on Telegram. Always verify via official apps/websites.
👉 Be suspicious of “too good to be true” offers — guaranteed returns, huge cashback, zero-risk investments.
👉 Use app controls: block, report, leave groups that feel shady or pushy.
👉 Keep proof: screenshots, chat history, payment details — they help in police and bank complaints.
👉 Know where to complain:
- Helpline: 1930
- Portal: cybercrime.gov.in
- To flag suspicious links/handles: dedicated suspect reporting on the portal.
How Fintolit Helped a Telegram Scam Victim Take the Right Legal Steps?
Meet Rohit, 34, an IT professional from Bengaluru
Rohit received a message on Telegram from a “bank support agent” claiming his KYC was expiring.
The message said: “Your account will be blocked in 24 hours. Update your KYC immediately.”
They sent him a link to a fake page that looked exactly like his bank’s website. Panicking, Rohit entered his details — within 15 minutes, ₹45,000 was deducted from his account.
Like most scam victims, he felt: Embarrassed, Confused, unsure of what to do next, scared that the bank would blame him
How Fintolit Helped?
While searching online for “what to do after a Telegram scam”, he came across Fintolit.
Here’s what happened next:
1. He described his situation on Fintolit
He entered: “Lost money in a Telegram KYC scam. Need legal help.”
2. Fintolit matched him with the right type of lawyer
Within minutes, he was shown verified lawyers who specialise in:
- cyber fraud cases
- bank fraud disputes
- online scam complaints
These were lawyers who handle such cases regularly — not general practitioners.
3. The lawyer guided him through the correct next steps
The lawyer helped him:
- file an official complaint on cybercrime.gov.in
- send an immediate written request to his bank to freeze further transactions
- prepare a formal application to dispute the unauthorised UPI transfer
- preserve evidence like screenshots, timestamps, and UPI IDs
- avoid mistakes that victims typically make (like deleting chat history)
4. Result
Within 7 days, the bank reversed ₹32,000 after validating the fraud complaint. The remaining amount went into legal recovery proceedings.
Rohit later said:
“If I hadn’t found the lawyer on Fintolit, I would have had no idea how to start the process.”
How Fintolit Helps in Telegram Scam Situations?
Fintolit can’t stop scams — but it makes sure you don’t handle them alone or take the wrong steps.
1. Connects you to the right lawyer instantly: Whether it’s cyber fraud, UPI loss, sextortion, or a fake job scam — Fintolit helps you find verified lawyers who specialise in exactly that type of case.
2. Quick guidance on what to do next: Lawyers guide you on:
- how to file a cyber complaint
- what to tell the bank
- which evidence to save
- how to stop further loss or blackmail
- All explained in simple language.
3. No confusion, no panic: Instead of googling random advice, you get clear steps from professionals, so you act fast and correctly.
4. One place for all scam-related legal help: Finance scams, identity theft, digital arrest threats, sextortion, investment fraud — whatever the issue, Fintolit helps you find the right legal support within minutes.
Need Legal Help After a Telegram Scam?
Don’t panic or handle it alone. Get the right lawyer who understands your case and guides you step-by-step.
👉 Find verified legal experts in minutes on Fintolit, Contact us!