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Through this blog, we share about what can be done to avoid it, and the steps to be taken for reporting them to the authorities and ways to recover the money. 

What is a Telegram Scam?

There is no legal definition for a Telegram scam. It may be understood as a scam/fraud committed through Telegram as the means. Since Telegram has some features like encryption, allowing anonymity, it serves as an aid for scammers to commit financial frauds and other crimes. People got scammed on Telegram through malicious schemes reflecting identity theft, financial frauds, etc.

Example: Someone got a text on Telegram sharing information about a Part-Time Job and a hefty amount as remuneration, which serves as a trap for educated and unemployed people or those in dire need of money. Once agreed, they gave an easy task and instantly transferred the amount after completion of task. Now, they shared some more similar tasks and asked for bank details, and also kept paying after completion of each task. This way, the scammers built trust in the mind of this victim. Thereafter, they came up with a task where the victim was supposed to make a payment of Rs 1000 to get a cashback of Rs 1300. There was a bigger amount in the list offering bigger cashbacks, which once paid, there was no cashback and the victim suffered financial loss.    

Ways to avoid Telegram Scam

In order to avoid a Telegram scam, one has to be vigilant, and try not to fall prey to traps. The following precautions may help avoid Telegram Frauds:

• Do not connect with random people offering full-time or part time jobs.

• If you do connect over Telegram with someone for a job, check the details regarding the company name, their reviews, etc.

• Even if you find a company of good reputation, contact them through some other means, like the contact number available on their website. This will help catch if it was some kind of scam or genuine recruitment drive through Telegram.

• Make sure you do not fall for ways of making quick money, because the small chunks of quick money may lead to losing thousands and lakhs of your hard-earned money.  

• Do not share any bank or UPI details unless you personally know the person and are assured of the reason for such payment.

• Do not click on any random or suspicious links.

• Hang up on calls when you are suspicious of the person at the other end.

• Block unwanted calls and texts.

What to do if I got scammed on Telegram? - Cyber Complaint and more

If you have been scammed over Telegram and been trapped into some kind of bank payment fraud, leading to financial loss, you can inform the bank to freeze any further transactions. In case of any other means wherein you are defrauded into sharing any personal information, like UPI IDs, or other social media passwords, you may deactivate those for the time being. Meanwhile, block the telegram account through the application. 

The most important step is Cyber Crime Complaint. You may visit the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal at cybercrime.gov.in and click on the ‘Register a Complaint’. There is a separate option for Financial Fraud. 

You need to be careful while filling in the details, based on the actual facts. You may also be required to share some screenshots or other details, like the contact number through which you got scammed on Telegram, etc. Take note of the details like cyber complaint number, etc. 

Inference

While anyone at any time can become a victim of Telegram scam, awareness is the key to combat and deal with such frauds and fraudsters. All you need to do is be a little more vigilant. Even then if you or somebody you know got scammed on Telegram, take all the crucial steps to report the crime and safeguard further interests which are compromised by sharing some personal information, etc. Alerting the cyber crime authorities can safeguard others from falling a trap for Telegram Fraudsters.

FAQs on Telegram Scam

1. How to identify a fake telegram account?

Ans. If you find some fake profiles, or unsolicited messages, or a genuine looking profile directly jumping upon schemes for quick money, you need to be alert. Identifying genuineness of such accounts could be searching for the names or companies on other platforms.  

1. What to do if you are scammed on Telegram?

Ans. In case you got scammed on Telegram, go for blocking the Telegram Account, freeze your bank account for any transactions in case of a financial fraud, and do report the authorities regarding the cyber crime so committed.  

1. How to not get scammed on Telegram?

Ans. In order to avoid Telegram scam, some cautions have been suggested in the blog here. All you need to take care of is not to share any personal information with someone for the sake of making easy money. 

1. Can I get my money back after being scammed on Telegram?

Ans. Banks and RBI Guidelines do provide for refund of money in case of financial fraud. However, there are specific timelines, and also gaps around how much the person participated, the degree of lack of vigilance, etc. Thus, the victims can approach their respective banks immediately and seek recovery, which they may initiate through the other person’s bank. You can also send a legal notice to the fraudsters, seeking the money they defrauded you with and of taking legal action.

Written by: Advocate Anish Palkar