Telegram’s rare digital gifts and usernames, now worth over $100,000

Telegram’s collectible digital gifts and usernames, some now reportedly selling for over $100,000, have made users targets for online scammers and extortionists, according to the messaging platform’s founder, Pavel Durov. 

In a message posted to his Telegram channel on Monday, Durov said the increase in value of rare usernames, numbers, and digital gifts has attracted malicious actors. These scammers are allegedly extorting Telegram users, demanding access to these digital assets under threat of personal data leaks or reputational harm.

“We’re seeing scammers blackmail users, trying to force them into handing over these valuable collectibles,” Durov wrote. “There are also reports of channels extorting money by threatening to leak personal information or sensitive data.”

The 40-year-old Russian programmer went on to claim that certain groups have built a blackmail operation around these tactics, publishing harmful content, only removing it for a fee. 

Rare Telegram gifts, once bought for just a few dollars, can now sell for over $100K. But this surge in value has a dark side. Scammers are blackmailing users, trying to force them to hand over these collectibles. If you’ve faced this, lmk in my tg: https://t.co/xCQYXmK3BS

— Pavel Durov (@durov) July 21, 2025

He termed the fraudulent practice “illegal and immoral,” and asked all affected users to report incidents directly to him with supporting evidence. Durov also promised to take down bad actors and make Telegram a “safe place for everyone.”

Telegram NFT gifts update

Gift thieves and extortionists set up shop on Telegram after the platform’s first update in 2025, which went live on January 2. One of the features added was tools that added more value and functionality to digital items on the platform. This, per CEO Durov, has attracted a number of fraudsters.

The new features allow users to convert Telegram gifts like digital Santa hats, cakes, and other themed tokens into blockchain-backed NFTs via Telegram Stars

“Gifts you receive on Telegram are now able to be upgraded to collectibles,” Telegram said in a blog post. “Collectible gifts have special attributes and can be transferred to other users or auctioned on NFT marketplaces.”

To convert these items, users must connect a TON (The Open Network) crypto wallet. Telegram also charges a fee to cover blockchain transaction costs.

Telegram tried to improve its security by enabling third-party account verification and improving global search features. The company might have seen these changes as enough to improve user experience, but according to Durov, alongside other security analysts, adding monetary value to virtual items is an invitation to cybercriminals.

SurfShark warning preceded Durov’s findings

In March, Cybersecurity firm SurfShark had talked about how fraudsters manipulated gift-giving features on digital platforms for illicit gain. In its research, “gift card scams” were executed by bad actors posing as employers, friends, or family members to convince victims to purchase gift cards and send them the codes.

In many cases, victims are told they’re buying gift cards for job training or emergencies, with the promise of reimbursement that never comes. Once the code is shared, the scammer cashes out the card’s value.

SurfShark also flagged blackmail tactics tied to personal data and private images. These threats are an escalation of the so-called “romance scams,” in which a scammer builds trust before coercing victims to share intimate photos or videos. That material is then used as leverage, with the threat of public exposure unless a ransom is paid.

Other extortion techniques involve fabricated claims that the scammer already possesses sensitive information, obtained through a data breach or surveillance. Victims are given a tight deadline that could cause them to panic and pay a ransom hastily.

In other news, the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) last Friday ordered an immediate shutdown of Telegram across the country, citing the platform’s use in money laundering and online scams.

In a public statement, the NTA said it had directed all internet service providers and telecom networks to block access to Telegram without delay.

KEY Difference Wire helps crypto brands break through and dominate headlines fast