Telegram adds third-party verification to combat scams

Telegram is trying to crack down on scams with a new feature that lets official third-party services assign verification icons to users and chats, the messaging service announced on Wednesday.

This is separate from the verification process Telegram has for public figures and organizations. Instead of displaying a blue checkmark, accounts and chats verified by third-party services will have a unique icon appear to the left of their name. If you click on the profile of a third-party verified chat or account, you can see which service verified it and why.

The profile of a verified account or chat might say something like, “Verified by the Learning Standards Authority for quality language education.”
GIF: Telegram

Telegram says only services with an official bot verified by Telegram can apply to become a third-party verifier, helping to “prevent scams and reduce misinformation.” X has a similar feature that lets verified organizations assign affiliation badges to related accounts.

Along with this update, Telegram is also rolling out new search filters that should make it easier to find certain chats, the ability to scan QR codes using Telegram’s in-app camera on iOS and Android, as well as a way to turn digital gifts into NFTs.

Related Content

Consumer tech spending will break records in 2025 if Trump’s tariffs don’t squash it, CTA predicts

Toyota’s Woven City is open for business and looking for startups

Washington sues T-Mobile over 2021 data breach that spilled 79 million customer records

Leave a Comment