Telegram, as the most important social platform in the cryptocurrency world, facilitates user communication but has also become a favorite haunt for scammers. To stand undefeated in the TG world, we must master the following safety operations, transforming from novices into masters!
Introduction: When you are navigating the ocean of Telegram, have you ever been troubled by these issues?
"XXX airdropped, hurry to claim!" — Is there really such a thing as falling pie from the sky?
"Hey buddy, here's a chance to make big money!" — Could this be a chosen one?
"Dear user, your account has security risks..." — Would an official customer service speak like this?
"Hello, this is XXX official group..." — Why is there not a single real person in the group?
These seemingly friendly messages often hide deadly traps. In the TG world, scammers are everywhere, and vigilance is crucial. So how can we navigate TG safely and stylishly? Let's master the strongest Telegram security secrets together!
One, Close Protection: Account Security Settings Are Essential
As a beginner in TG, your primary task is to put a bulletproof vest on your account. The following settings can significantly increase your account's security level:
1.1 Hide Phone Number: Top Secret, No One Can See
Settings path: Privacy and Security - Phone Number - Who can see my phone number? - No one
Why set it this way? If your phone number falls into the hands of scammers, they can easily impersonate you, even resetting your various accounts using SMS verification codes. Therefore, never let anyone see your phone number.
1.2 Restrict others from finding you via your phone number: Only close friends can find you.
Settings path: Privacy and Security - Phone Number - Who can find me through my number? - My Contacts
This setting can prevent strangers from finding your TG account through your phone number. After all, in the anonymous world of TG, we don't know if the other person is good or bad. Limiting harassment from strangers is also a way to protect privacy.
1.3 Hide Last Online Time: Mysterious and Trace-Free
Settings path: Privacy and Security - Last Online / Online - Who can see my last online time? - No one
Have you ever thought that scammers can infer your daily routine from your last online time? With this information, they can implement scams more accurately. Therefore, maintain a sense of mystery and do not let anyone know your online time.
1.4 Enable Two-Step Verification: Double Insurance, Double Security
Settings path: Settings - Privacy and Security - Two-Step Verification
Two-step verification is like a second line of defense for your account. Even if scammers get your password, they cannot log in without secondary verification. Therefore, please make sure to enable two-step verification for added insurance for your account.
1.5 Turn off message preview: Avoid privacy leaks and prevent others from snooping.
Settings path: Notifications and Sounds - Message Preview - Never. You certainly don't want others to sneak a peek at your TG messages when they have the chance to look at your phone, right? By turning off message previews, you can maximize the protection of your chat privacy. This small setting can have a significant effect.
In addition to these basic settings, I have some advanced security suggestions:
1.6 Do not add contacts easily: In the vast sea of people, who is a friend and who is an enemy?
Do not casually accept friend requests from strangers. Scammers often gain your trust through friend requests and then implement fraud. Be very cautious with friend requests from strangers.
1.7 Do not save sensitive information in TG: private keys, mnemonic phrases, never show them to others.
Once your TG account is hacked, all information inside could fall into the hands of scammers. Therefore, do not save any sensitive information related to assets in TG, such as private keys and mnemonic phrases. This information must be stored offline, and the more obscure, the safer.
1.8 Always Stay Alert: There is No Free Lunch
In the world of TG, do not easily trust anyone's promises, especially those that sound tempting, such as "airdrops" and "free coins." Remember, there is no such thing as a free lunch. Everything that seems "free" may hide traps set by scammers.
Two, Eyes of Fire: Fake Officials, Fake Customer Service, Easily Spot Them
In the TG world, one of the most common scams is impersonating official customer service to trick users into revealing sensitive information. So how can you distinguish between true and false? Remember these points:
2.1 Official customer service will never proactively message users.
Any private message claiming to be official is undoubtedly from a scammer. Just think about it, how could an official customer service representative have time to chat one-on-one with every user? Therefore, any so-called "official customer service" that proactively messages you is a scammer impersonating them.
2.2 Official names usually have a "✅" mark.
Those without this mark are most likely fake. This small "✅" mark is the certification given by TG to real accounts. Therefore, before interacting with any account claiming to be "official," make sure to verify whether they have this certification mark.
For example, in the image below:
2.3 Carefully identify the username of the official account.
Scammers often use very similar usernames to confuse users. One of their tricks is to register a username that closely resembles an official account. For example, if the official username is "OfficialTON," a scammer may register "0fficialTON" (note that the first character is the number "0"). Therefore, when confirming official identities, make sure to carefully check each character and do not be deceived by similar usernames.
2.4 Any request for you to provide keys, private keys, or verification codes is from a scammer!
This might be the most important point. No matter who the other party claims to be, whether an official customer service representative, project party, or your long-time friend, if they ask you for sensitive information such as keys, private keys, or verification codes, they are undoubtedly a scammer. True official personnel and friends would never ask for this information.
Three, Stand Ready: Group Chat Traps, Every Step is Treacherous
In addition to private messages, criminals often set traps using group chat features. When faced with various Telegram groups, we must remain vigilant:
3.1 Fake Official Groups:
Scammers forge official symbols to create groups that are extremely similar to official groups. Be careful to verify before joining. Just like impersonating official customer service, scammers also impersonate official groups. These fake groups usually use names and avatars very similar to official groups, aiming to gain users' trust. Therefore, before joining any group, always verify the group's authenticity through official channels.
3.2 Scam Trap Groups:
So-called "XXX Airdrop Groups" and "XXX Discussion Groups" are nine times out of ten scams. Do not be greedy for small benefits to avoid falling for traps. Scammers love to use so-called "airdrops" and "free coins" to attract users into groups. These groups often pose as "official discussion groups" or "airdrop activity groups," but in reality, they are traps set by scammers. Once you enter these groups, you may be lured to click on phishing websites or be scammed out of your private keys and mnemonic phrases. So, do not casually enter unfamiliar groups, and do not easily trust others in the group.
3.3 AI Bot Groups:
Groups where all interactions are by bots aim to create a false sense of prosperity to lower your guard. Don't be deceived by appearances! Some groups may seem lively, but a closer look reveals that they are all bots spamming. The purpose of such groups is to create a false illusion of prosperity, leading you to mistakenly believe this is a hot project, thereby lowering your guard. Encountering such groups requires you to stay sharp and not be fooled by surface phenomena.
Four, Tackle the Tricks: Various Scams, Unravel One by One
In addition to the common scams mentioned above, there are many diverse tricks in the TG world. Next, let's break them down one by one:
4.1 Zero-Amount Transfer Scam:
Scammers send a zero-amount transfer and leave a phishing website link. Do not click! You might wonder why scammers would transfer you zero coins. This is actually bait. Scammers hope you click on that phishing website, thereby stealing your sensitive information. So, for such inexplicable transfers, we must be vigilant and not click on any links casually.
4.2 Fake Airdrop Scam:
So-called "airdropping tokens into your wallet" is all about tricking you into authorizing or transferring funds. Please stay vigilant! Airdrop scams are one of the most common tricks in TG. Scammers claim to give you airdropped tokens, but the premise is that you must authorize or transfer funds first. Once you comply, your wallet could become the scammer's ATM. So, do not trust any "airdrop" that requires you to pay first; they are all scams.
4.3 Fake Customer Service Scam:
Scammers claim they can help you "create wallets" or "sync wallets," but in reality, they steal your mnemonic phrases and private keys. Please refuse all requests for sensitive information! In TG, there has never been any "official customer service" that proactively offers services like "wallet creation" or "wallet synchronization." These are common tricks used by scammers. Their goal is to trick you into providing mnemonic phrases, private keys, and other sensitive information, thereby stealing your assets. So, do not trust any requests for sensitive information, no matter who they claim to be.
4.4 Malware Scam:
Scammers lure you to download malware through files, links, etc., thereby stealing your information. Do not click on unknown sources casually! When receiving strange files or links in TG, your first reaction should be to be cautious. These may very well be malware sent by scammers. Once you download and run it, your device could be controlled by hackers, and all your information could be fully exposed. Therefore, do not casually click on files and links from unknown sources; this is the most basic security common sense.
Five, Learn from History: Real Case Warnings
5.1 Trojan Invasion Case
A project leader received a message claiming to be from a well-known venture capital firm, inviting them to a video conference. The other party recommended using specific conference software, claiming it has AI instant translation features. In reality, this software was a trojan, resulting in multiple wallets being emptied, with losses exceeding $150,000.
Lessons Learned:
Be cautious when downloading unknown software.
Verify domain registration time.
Use tools like VirusTotal for detection.
Use separate devices for important accounts.
5.2 Social Engineering Phishing Case
User A contacted B under the pretense of exchanging cryptocurrency, extracted information, and then stole B's account. Subsequently, using B's identity, they continued to defraud others, resulting in a chain of scams.
Preventive Measures:
Verify the identity of contacts.
Do not easily share screenshots.
Beware of verification code scams.
Enable two-step verification.
Six, Speed is Key: Don't Panic When Stolen, Quick Loss Prevention is Crucial
Even if we are careful, we will inevitably have moments of negligence. Once you discover you have been scammed, please take the following actions immediately to minimize losses:
Calmly analyze and confirm the facts of being scammed. When you realize you may have been scammed, the first step is to calm down and clarify what has happened. Confirm whether you have truly been scammed and the specifics of the loss. Only by understanding these can you take targeted action.
Immediately change the passwords of all related accounts. Once you confirm you've been scammed, the first task is to control the losses. Immediately change the passwords of all related accounts, including TG, exchanges, wallets, and all other accounts. Additionally, if your TG account has been hacked, go to "Settings - Privacy and Security - Active Sessions" and log out of all other devices. This can prevent scammers from continuing to use your account.
If funds are stolen, contact the exchange or wallet provider immediately to try to freeze or recover them. If your funds have been transferred to an exchange, contact the exchange's customer service immediately, explain the situation, and request to freeze the funds. If transferred to another wallet, contact the wallet development team to see if there's a way to recover them. Time is money; the sooner you take action, the higher the chances of recovery.
Collect evidence, report to law enforcement, and actively cooperate with investigations. While taking loss prevention measures, also gather evidence to prepare for reporting to law enforcement. Keep all chat logs, transaction records, etc., as these are valuable evidence. Then report to the local police and actively cooperate with their investigation. Only with law enforcement's involvement can scammers be truly punished and losses recovered.
Summarize lessons learned and strengthen prevention awareness. "Once bitten, twice shy." While being scammed is painful, it is also a valuable lesson. We must summarize our experiences, reflect on our mistakes, and constantly remind ourselves to stay alert. Only through continuous learning and growth can we safely navigate in the complex world of TG.
Seven, Master's Secret Manual: Always Stay Vigilant, Control the Situation
The TG world is full of twists and turns, and scams are everywhere. To navigate this world with ease, the above tricks are not enough. We also need to master some master-level thinking:
Do not easily trust others, especially promises from strangers. There is no such thing as a free lunch! This phrase fits perfectly in the TG world. The so-called "free airdrop" or "high-interest returns" are often traps set by scammers. As a traveler in the TG world, we must remain vigilant at all times and not easily trust anyone's promises, especially those from strangers.
Always stay vigilant and maintain a skeptical attitude towards everything. Better to miss out than to be misled! In the TG world, staying alert is self-protection. Maintain a skeptical attitude towards any information, and do not easily believe it. Even if it means missing out on some so-called "opportunities," it is far better than being deceived and suffering significant losses. Remember, better to miss out than to be misled!
Master the overall information and understand the development dynamics of the cryptocurrency world. Knowing yourself and your enemy is the key to victory! The TG world changes rapidly, with various projects and information emerging constantly. As a qualified "TG master," we must keep an eye on industry trends and understand the latest developments of various projects. Only with a comprehensive understanding of the entire cryptocurrency world can we respond to challenges with ease.
Cultivate the ability to think independently and not just follow others. Verify from multiple sources to distinguish right from wrong! In the information-explosive world of TG, everyone seems to have their own "judgment." However, we should not just follow the crowd blindly. Instead, we need to cultivate the ability to think independently and learn to analyze and judge for ourselves. For any information, verify from multiple sources instead of believing it easily. Only in this way can we find the truth amidst the chaos of information.
Conclusion: The TG world is vast, and safety is always a top priority on the journey.
I hope that through the above tricks, you can navigate the world of Telegram safely and become a true security master! Let us stay vigilant at all times, wielding the sword of wisdom and caution to cut through the scams of scammers and jointly create a safer and more trustworthy cryptocurrency world.
