Pavel Durov Warns of Blackmailers Targeting Telegram Gifts and Usernames

[tradelikepro]

If you own a rare Telegram gift, short username, or collectible handle—watch your inbox.

Telegram founder Pavel Durov has issued a warning about a rising wave of blackmail and extortion attempts targeting users with valuable assets on the platform.
The New Targets: Collectible Gifts and Usernames

Since the launch of Telegram Gifts in October 2024, and the ability to upgrade them into collectible, tradable assets in early 2025, some gifts and usernames have skyrocketed in value. Some are now being resold for over $100,000.

Naturally, this caught the attention of scammers.

According to Durov, bad actors are:

Threatening to leak personal or sensitive data

Demanding payment in exchange for silence or safety

Sometimes running full-blown blackmail businesses built around publishing compromising content and extorting the victims afterward

“It’s illegal, immoral, and absolutely unacceptable,” Durov stated.

️ What Telegram Users Can Do

If you’ve been targeted, Durov wants to know—personally.

He encouraged users to report blackmail attempts directly to him via private messages on his Telegram channel… but here’s the catch:

Messaging him costs 5,000 Telegram Stars

That’s about ₽13,700 (~$150) on iOS, or ₽8,199 (~$90) via Telegram’s Premium Bot

Don’t want to pay to report a scam? Fair enough—there’s a free option:

Report to Telegram Support

Use the hashtag #blackmail

The Market Behind the Madness

Telegram’s collectible gift economy has become serious business:

As of now, the total market cap of Telegram Gifts is over 20.4 million TON, or about $67.3 million (source: Giftstat)

Gifts can be converted, transferred, or sold, making them attractive—but also risky—for users with desirable assets

🧠 TL;DR

Telegram’s collectible gifts and usernames are now worth serious money

Scammers are using blackmail and extortion to profit from collectors and creators

Durov says: report blackmail directly to him (if you're willing to pay), or to support using #blackmail

The gift economy is booming—but security risks are rising with it

What Do You Think?

Should Telegram make reporting scams free across the board?

Are collectible assets on messaging platforms worth the risk?

Have you experienced or heard of similar blackmail attempts in Web3 spaces?

With digital identity and ownership getting more valuable by the day, it’s clear: where there’s money, there are scams. Stay alert—and report shady behavior before it spreads.

[Nahid10]

Ask: How do you protect your digital collections—are two-factor authentication (2FA), encrypted backups, or username lock features effective?

Explore reporting channels: Pavel Durov invites victims to report incidents directly, with “supporting evidence,” promising swift action at invest.com and +1binance.com. How transparent will Telegram be about takedowns and future safeguards?
Push for platform solutions: Should Telegram introduce features like automatic alerts for suspicious username transfers or escrow-style protection for high-value ccollectables