The Telegram Conundrum

[Fulcrum29]

Recently I lost a prepaid number that was attached to my business. I never used this number to dial out, only ever used it with WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, etc. It depended. I did regularly 'recharge' the account, so I was a bit surprised when the line got suspended. I did do recharging and did use SIM data, so they nailed my line on not having a chargeable call? At the store, they told me you have to make a call within 90 days. So, yeah, I am not happy. Even under these circumstances, going through the support you can't get your old number back. It gets quarantined in which it is untouchable according to them, and then promptly recycled. The guy at the store also told me that it is the quickest he has ever seen a number recycled.

So this was a challenge. I was able to get most things registered to a new number. Except Telegram. Now, I still have access to my account, but I can't change its number. The new number is already in use, and it can only be authenticated via the Telegram app. This is absolute kak.

I can already see scammers and other malcious people getting as many numbers as possible to sign up Telegram accounts and then trash the number.

It has been more than a week, and it is impossible to get Telegram to support you. They don't do SMS activations anymore, unless the number is new on their system. Terrible.

I went on social media and other discussion boards, and this seems to be the most complained about issue. This whole thing is plagued with suspicious people willing to 'help' you out.

Anyone here knows how to swindle their system into sending you an SMS? Some said, some countries allow it and you have to set up a Telegram proxy, but I tried and it didn't work. Apparently trying too many times can also get activation blocked on new devices.

PS. Anyone here with an MTN prepaid account should activate the extender service. Odd how this isn't a standard, and not clearly communicated.

 

[Bliksis]

I'm becoming more and more shocked at the obvious unwillingness of support staff to go through any more effort than what can be discussed on a single phone call.

You bump into a brick wall in the form of a person who you should be nice to because they are just doing their job (poor them). In fact, they are putting in as little effort as possible, and trying to close as many tickets as possible.

I hate how you simply get snubbed with "that's how it works" or "we've followed accepted procedures" or some other kak. We've become quite helpless against big corporates.

 

[Smiggles]

Only scammers use Telegram.

 

[Fulcrum29]

I'm becoming more and more shocked at the obvious unwillingness of support staff to go through any more effort than what can be discussed on a single phone call.

You bump into a brick wall in the form of a person who you should be nice to because they are just doing their job (poor them). In fact, they are putting in as little effort as possible, and trying to close as many tickets as possible.

I hate how you simply get snubbed with "that's how it works" or "we've followed accepted procedures" or some other kak. We've become quite helpless against big corporates.

Ignoring Telegram. When I tried to get my number back, and going through lengthy support processes with their call centre, in addition to a ticket the store opened. They said that I disconnected my own account. It is not true. It worked on a Sunday, and on Monday my MSISDN was disconnected. From the store to the call centre, back to the store, and so it went on.

Now I have activated the extender service on both my prepaid numbers, and put a 28-day repeat reminder to call my personal line.

This Telegram thing. It is like they don't want new subscribers. This only exacerbates the bot and scamming problem that they have. The numbers are being squatted.

 

[Fulcrum29]

Only scammers use Telegram.

Nah, I would say most users. It is like Steam where bots and alt accounts are counted as users. Where a single user has multiple accounts. Funny this, Steam did an expensive survey to determine how many accounts are active. I don't trust that. Most bots are CS bots, and all those bots are prime accounts. Farming is what it is. For the worst.

 

[borro]

Recently I lost a prepaid number that was attached to my business. I never used this number to dial out, only ever used it with WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, etc. It depended. I did regularly 'recharge' the account, so I was a bit surprised when the line got suspended. I did do recharging and did use SIM data, so they nailed my line on not having a chargeable call? At the store, they told me you have to make a call within 90 days. So, yeah, I am not happy. Even under these circumstances, going through the support you can't get your old number back. It gets quarantined in which it is untouchable according to them, and then promptly recycled. The guy at the store also told me that it is the quickest he has ever seen a number recycled.

So this was a challenge. I was able to get most things registered to a new number. Except Telegram. Now, I still have access to my account, but I can't change its number. The new number is already in use, and it can only be authenticated via the Telegram app. This is absolute kak.

I can already see scammers and other malcious people getting as many numbers as possible to sign up Telegram accounts and then trash the number.

It has been more than a week, and it is impossible to get Telegram to support you. They don't do SMS activations anymore, unless the number is new on their system. Terrible.

I went on social media and other discussion boards, and this seems to be the most complained about issue. This whole thing is plagued with suspicious people willing to 'help' you out.

Anyone here knows how to swindle their system into sending you an SMS? Some said, some countries allow it and you have to set up a Telegram proxy, but I tried and it didn't work. Apparently trying too many times can also get activation blocked on new devices.

PS. Anyone here with an MTN prepaid account should activate the extender service. Odd how this isn't a standard, and not clearly communicated.

The problem is them. Same k@k with vk. New number but unable to update. Its not even possible to set up a new account, since +27 is basically blocked. Until… who knows?

 

[Fulcrum29]

The problem is them. Same k@k with vk. New number but unable to update. Its not even possible to set up a new account, since +27 is basically blocked. Until… who knows?

The last thing I want to have is some random recovering an account that they shouldn't have access to. Now, I can't simply delete the account. I don't care about the Telegram account the new number is assigned to, all I want is to change my Telegram account that is registered to my old number to the new number. This is super simple to do with all competing services.

I asked their volunteer service whether they can help me out, or put me in touch with the persons running "smstelegram" on X. They read it, but didn't respond.

I am going to give it a week. No response by Saturday, I am abandoning Telegram. For business, Telegram is actually a very good tool. Most things that Telegram does, WhatsApp can now also do. Telegram's API is so easy to use.

I don't do vk, so I have no opinion on that one.

 

[now05ster]

Anyone here with an MTN prepaid account should activate the extender service. Odd how this isn't a standard, and not clearly communicated.

Shots.

 

[Fulcrum29]

Shots.

Yeah, my number, or line as they say, was 12 years old. The store initially thought that my SIM was too old to recognise, lol.

 

[now05ster]

Yeah, my number, or line as they say, was 12 years old. The store initially thought that my SIM was too old to recognise, lol.

The while thing is messed (I want to use another word), both from MTN's processes to Telegram's.

I'm also trying to recover a Telegram account, but given up in the process.

Not the same as your scenario, but long story.

 

[Fulcrum29]

The while thing is messed (I want to use another word), both from MTN's processes to Telegram's.

I'm also trying to recover a Telegram account, but given up in the process.

Not the same as your scenario, but long story.

I was pretty pissed last week. Irritated everyday. I use Telegram channels to issue notices, etc. This is very important.

Telegram has to do something. I asked on Reddit, and all I get is to get a new number until it works. Other people say that you can receive an SMS when you don't have access to the app, but I can't. It was then when I tried the proxy advice and still nothing.

Yet, people get their accounts captured via malicious links sent on WhatsApp /Sigh

How can a messaging service that is this large, that does have a subscription service in addition to other monetisation, and even crypto, not have any support?

The user has no security. You lose one control, which is a phone number, and your account is potentially vulnerable.

I am waiting on the person who now have my number, whom I tried to call, and uhm, yeah, to try and activate my number on Telegram. As my luck goes, they will probably get it done.

 

[FiestaST]

Sadly our token Telegram-guy on the forum pulled out*, he seemed well versed in all things Telegram-related,

Name started with an "O"...

*
*

 

[Fulcrum29]

There is a person who told me that you need to have Premium to unlock support. I lolled. I am not going to pay, and still not receive support. I hope this isn't true, but I am not going to pay anything to a company that I don't trust. Trust begins with support, and they aren't giving any, never mind that they have a gold checkmark on X.

Yahoo also does this, they only provide standard support within the US. Everyone not within the US has to subscribe to their subscription service to be provided with support, IIRC. Even then, it isn't a guarantee to have your account recovered. I don't know whether their policy has changed. I do know people who have struggled with this, and eventually gave up on their email. For the Apple people, be cautious with Passkeys. Flipping phones when getting new ones, remember to walk back your security credentials.

At least I still have access to my Telegram account. For how long... that is what bothers me, and I can't make the number discoverable because I don't 'own' the number anymore. There are no messages contained within the account that cannot be disclosed. It is all 'support' notices, but there are many people and businesses added to that account that can be scammed and spammed. I don't wish that onto anyone. For now, it is best practice to delete the account, but then I can't register a new Telegram account. It is an odd position to be in.

I have spent more than enough time trying to manage this situation. A number change is not a good experience. Then having to run into walls like Telegram is being kicked when you are down and exhausted.

 

[B-1]

I think there is a timeout on the apps if you don't have secondary authentication. So you basically wait for the app to realise it no longer has anyone logging in with the number before it let's you do anything. I'm not sure how that applies to the number swapping process though.

Have you downloaded the desktop app and connected via that?

 

[SauRoNZA]

The last thing I want to have is some random recovering an account that they shouldn't have access to. Now, I can't simply delete the account. I don't care about the Telegram account the new number is assigned to, all I want is to change my Telegram account that is registered to my old number to the new number. This is super simple to do with all competing services.

I asked their volunteer service whether they can help me out, or put me in touch with the persons running "smstelegram" on X. They read it, but didn't respond.

I am going to give it a week. No response by Saturday, I am abandoning Telegram. For business, Telegram is actually a very good tool. Most things that Telegram does, WhatsApp can now also do. Telegram's API is so easy to use.

I don't do vk, so I have no opinion on that one.

Why can’t you delete it??

I also use Telegram extensively for the easy API access, which last I checked isn’t possible on WhatsApp without a business account.

 

[Fulcrum29]

I think there is a timeout on the apps if you don't have secondary authentication. So you basically wait for the app to realise it no longer has anyone logging in with the number before it let's you do anything. I'm not sure how that applies to the number swapping process though.

Have you downloaded the desktop app and connected via that?

All my Telegram accounts have multiple active sessions including desktop. Three devices at minimum.

 

[Fulcrum29]

Why can’t you delete it??

I also use Telegram extensively for the easy API access, which last I checked isn’t possible on WhatsApp without a business account.

Because I can't create a new account. The new prepaid number is already in use, and I have a second prepaid number that is also already in use. None, which is registered to an account (username) that I own.

My contract number is registered to my personal account. I am not exchanging that. I don't want to mix this.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Because I can't create a new account. The new prepaid number is already in use, and I have a second prepaid number that is also already in use. None, which is registered to an account (username) that I own.

My contract number is registered to my personal account. I am not exchanging that. I don't want to mix this.

Oh right, I was stuck on the old account.

Interesting conundrum and I'm guessing attaching an email address doesn't help to do the code verify? Because you can't log into it at all without the SMS?

 

[Fulcrum29]

Oh right, I was stuck on the old account.

Interesting conundrum and I'm guessing attaching an email address doesn't help to do the code verify? Because you can't log into it at all without the SMS?

No, and I think this is the silliest authentication on the planet when changing (or losing) a phone number. Email works when adding additional devices.

This is a mechanism that they have implemented sometime in 2020. I don't even want to know how many phone numbers have been squatted since.

Since September 2020:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1303694650272821250

Telegram will deliver your first login code by SMS. After that, codes will be delivered to other Telegram apps you're using, so you only need an internet connection to swiftly sign in on additional devices.

This wouldn't have been an issue with support, but support aren't engaging, so the process to correct the account is non-existent. It's like they treat everything as being suspicious, while hoarding suspicious accounts.

The people who use Telegram with these phone numbers I now have might be active users, whether they are ethical or unethical users. This is an odd situation that is created by Telegram.

Across the world, prepaid and virtual numbers are recycled all the time.

I can easily see criminals here getting access to "pre-RICA'd" SIMs registering a Telegram account, and ditching the SIM. This can happen en masse.

From reading, Telegram still allowed phone number recovery sometime last year, but have since stopped.

 

[SauRoNZA]

No, and I think this is the silliest authentication on the planet when changing (or losing) a phone number. Email works when adding additional devices.

This is a mechanism that they have implemented sometime in 2020. I don't even want to know how many phone numbers have been squatted since.

Since September 2020:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1303694650272821250

This wouldn't have been an issue with support, but support aren't engaging, so the process to correct the account is non-existent. It's like they treat everything as being suspicious, while hoarding suspicious accounts.

The people who use Telegram with these phone numbers I now have might be active users, whether they are ethical or unethical users. This is an odd situation that is created by Telegram.

Across the world, prepaid and virtual numbers are recycled all the time.

I can easily see criminals here getting access to "pre-RICA'd" SIMs registering a Telegram account, and ditching the SIM. This can happen en masse.

From reading, Telegram still allowed phone number recovery sometime last year, but have since stopped.

The fact there isn't a failover requesting an SMS or even a phone call is pretty crazy.

And you can't forcibly log out other devices unless you are already logged in, in which case you would get the code anyway.

But now that you mentioned it had this exact thing with a friend of mine who moved to the UK and couldn't authenticate with the old number to login to a new device and ended up just making a new one entirely.