New scam on Telegram: people are copying profiles and getting money

UZCERT has warned about a sharp increase in a new type of fraud on Telegram in recent months. According to the information, fraudsters monitor open @username data in Telegram groups and completely copy users’ profiles without joining the group. They recreate the profile photo, full name, bio, and even the @username exactly the same.

After that, fraudsters use the copied profile to send private messages to group members, asking them to transfer money to unknown bank cards under the pretext of “urgent need for money” or “please lend me”. Since the message appears to come from someone they know, some users send money without checking the situation, suffering financial losses.

UZCERT reminded users of several security measures:

– strengthen the Telegram account using 2FA;
– hide phone number, profile picture, and “last seen” information from strangers;
– do not trust unknown accounts requesting money or sending “prize” messages;
– before sending money to someone, verify the message by directly contacting the person;
– check the source of apk/exe files before opening them;
– regularly review active sessions and remove unknown devices.

Experts note that this type of fraud is spreading rapidly, and following precautionary measures ensures personal security for every user.