The Telegram Conundrum

Here is a person with a similar issue as I have:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Telegram/comments/1k2ok41/what_do_i_do

There are many more such incidents.

This response:

It probably thinks you're still logged onto another device, so it sent the confirmation there, like on a PC or similar.

If you just bought this SIM card, it could be that it was already registered to another Telegram account before. At this point it's probably easier to get another number, or contact Telegram support to figure it out.

SIM cards in my country are like $5, so usually when something like this happens I simply purchase a new number. It isn't worth the hassle, unless your number is older and all your contacts have it.
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That is the gist. No, Telegram doesn't answer their support lines.
 
Fulcrum29 said:
An email can only be used to authorise new sessions. I still have access to the account. What I can't do is to change the number that the account is attached to, neither can I broadcast that number to the people belonging to the groups (and channels).



I can't change the phone number on my Telegram account to a number that is already in use by another account on Telegram. When I request the change, the account to which the number is attached to has to provide the authentication code.

I am being prevented by being unauthorised.
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That is bizarre, you'd assume that whoever has access to the number and can receive a sms verification code takes ownership of said number, just like every other app works. That they are not doing that can only be because they are trying to cut costs and refuse to pay for the verification sms's. Why not just make that a once off paid feature, pay $1 and you will be sent a verification sms.

So as it stands now to attach your new number to your account you would need the login info of the account that the number is currently attached to so you could receive the authentication code to allow that to happen?
 
Finally managed to get into Telegram after last trying to log in about a year ago. It just didn't want to sms or call my number.

Maybe they fixed something or the dormancy is noted.
 
Fulcrum29 said:
As previously said, if you have a critical MTN prepaid number, just subscribe to the MTN Access4Life Xtender service. I was actually unaware of this service. Now all of my prepaid numbers are subscribed, just two though. If this fails, oh jinne.

For those not wanting to lose their MTN line for reasons...
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Thank you for highlighting this. Have just activated the service.
 
now05ster said:
Finally managed to get into Telegram after last trying to log in about a year ago. It just didn't want to sms or call my number.

Maybe they fixed something or the dormancy is noted.
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What error was it giving you a year ago that was preventing you from logging in?
 
airborne said:
What error was it giving you a year ago that was preventing you from logging in?
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Did not receive a phone call or sms in order to recover the account with an OTP. I now have it linked to my Google account as well. Hopefully that would help.
 
now05ster said:
Did not receive a phone call or sms in order to recover the account with an OTP. I now have it linked to my Google account as well. Hopefully that would help.
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So how have you managed to recover it now 1yr later if they still aren't sending recovery sms/call?
 
airborne said:
So how have you managed to recover it now 1yr later if they still aren't sending recovery sms/call?
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Received it this morning when I tried again.

It could also just be Cell C blocking it or the sending SMS provider/call service just not making calls/SMSes to my mobile network back in the day. Idk.
 
now05ster said:
Received it this morning when I tried again.

It could also just be Cell C blocking it or the sending SMS provider/call service just not making calls/SMSes to my mobile network back in the day. Idk.
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@Fulcrum29 @SauRoNZA I thought Telegram doesn't send authentication sms other than when you first register?
 
airborne said:
That is bizarre, you'd assume that whoever has access to the number and can receive a sms verification code takes ownership of said number, just like every other app works. That they are not doing that can only be because they are trying to cut costs and refuse to pay for the verification sms's. Why not just make that a once off paid feature, pay $1 and you will be sent a verification sms.

So as it stands now to attach your new number to your account you would need the login info of the account that the number is currently attached to so you could receive the authentication code to allow that to happen?
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The first problem I have is that I don't know if the account is being squatted. If it is in use, the account will not terminate. You can adjust the setting of it yourself.

Screenshot 2025-04-24 113016.png

Potentially, I could wait up to 24 months, if not forever (depending on the activity of the account).

The second problem is that there are users capable of recovering accounts via support. I don't know about changing numbers. However, I am not receiving support from any of their channels.
 
airborne said:
@Fulcrum29 @SauRoNZA I thought Telegram doesn't send authentication sms other than when you first register?
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The account the number was attached to self-destructed or the user of the account terminated the account. Then you can, again, register a new number on their service.

EDIT: Sometime last year, Telegram also changed the default self-destruct from 6 to 18 months.

If the account is used for bots, then I can forget about it.
 
Fulcrum29 said:
The account the number was attached to self-destructed or the user of the account terminated the account. Then you can, again, register a new number on their service.

EDIT: Sometime last year, Telegram also changed the default self-destruct from 6 to 18 months.

If the account is used for bots, then I can forget about it.
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I wonder if the prepaid MTN SIM I got has a Telegram acc linked to it...

I've been getting weird calls as well as WhatsApps on it and the nr is only used as an esim (converted at MTN after purchase) on my LTE watch.
 
now05ster said:
I wonder if the prepaid MTN SIM I got has a Telegram acc linked to it...

I've been getting weird calls as well as WhatsApps on it and the nr is only used as an esim (converted at MTN after purchase) on my LTE watch.
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It is possible. The amount of prepaid and virtual numbers that are being recycled daily is very high.

Luckily I haven't received any oddities on my new number, except for excessive MTN spam. Disabling all of this message servicing does not reduce the influx of it.
 
I assume that my MTN prepaid account got disconnected due to inactivity, related to not having made a chargeable call. Even though I did recharge and use data on their network.

Then reading articles like this...

mybroadband.co.za

MTN hacked

MTN Group has notified customers that it suffered a data breach that exposed the private data of some people in certain markets.
mybroadband.co.za mybroadband.co.za

Whoo... Not saying that it could be due to that, but they couldn't explain to me why I was disconnected. They couldn't answer whether it was due to inactivity. Both the shop and call centre confirmed that my number appears active to them, but inactive on their backend, and neither could fix it. Despite escalating the issue, the response was that the line was disconnected at the product base and cannot be reinstated on their end. Strange for me, but I accepted the final outcome as it was a prepaid product. If it was a line attached to a contract, it would have been different.

I am going back there to check whether I can get that number back. This Telegram thing keeps on bothering me. Then I would have three prepaid SIMs, I don't need that many /ugh. I already have four numbers (incl. my son's) RICA'd to my identity, and I think it is a maximum of five.
 
Telegram still haven't responded to any of my emails, PMs, and contact form submissions. Though their support on X is definitely still alive.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1920485340642476223

Anyhow, some time ago on Reddit, a user in the know-how said that you can still receive an SMS. Apparently there is some form of inactivity mechanism, so if none of the sessions show any activity for some amount of time, an SMS can be sent for authorisation.

You don't necessarily have to wait until the account becomes deactivated due to inactivity.
 
To date, Telegram haven't assisted me. I have now sent them enough emails and attempts to contact them on X without any success.

However, some time ago on Reddit I was told that this is almost impossible to do. Number squatting on Telegram seems to be a real thing. About that SMS (or phone call), apparently you don't have to wait until an account is terminated or expires, but there is a certain countdown that when an account has not been in use that an SMS will be sent, and not a code to a linked device.

This is really dumb in my opinion. You can't simply get a new SIM until you get a number that isn't in use, lol.
 
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