Is sharing my phone number with a Telegram bot safe?

Hey everyone,

I’m a bit worried about something that just happened. A Telegram bot asked for my phone number. I’m not sure if this is normal or if I should be concerned.

Can anyone tell me if there are any dangers in giving my number to a bot? What could they possibly do with it? I’ve heard stories about scams and identity theft, so I want to be careful.

Also, is this a common thing for Telegram bots to ask for? I use other messaging apps and I don’t remember ever being asked for my phone number by a bot before.

Any advice would be really helpful. I want to stay safe online but I also don’t want to miss out on cool bot features if it’s actually harmless. Thanks in advance for any info!

yo, i had a bot ask for my # too. sketchy af if u ask me. i didnt give it cuz like, why do they need it? prolly just tryna spam u or somethin. stick to the safe side n keep ur digits to urself. bots dont need to be callin u lmao

I’d strongly advise against sharing your phone number with any Telegram bot. It’s rarely necessary and poses significant risks. Legitimate services typically have alternative verification methods. From my experience in cybersecurity, phone numbers are valuable to scammers for various fraudulent activities. They can be used for SIM swapping attacks, identity theft, or to bypass two-factor authentication on other accounts. Even if the bot seems trustworthy, there’s always a risk of data breaches. Unless it’s absolutely crucial for a service you genuinely need, it’s best to keep your number private. Remember, once you’ve given it out, you can’t take it back.

I’ve had a similar experience with Telegram bots asking for phone numbers, and I’d advise caution. While some legitimate bots might need your number for verification, it’s not a common practice across all platforms.

In my experience, sharing your phone number can lead to unwanted consequences. I once gave my number to what I thought was a harmless bot, and ended up receiving spam calls and messages for weeks. It’s best to be skeptical and do some research on the bot before sharing personal info.

If you’re unsure, try reaching out to the bot’s developers or checking their privacy policy. Remember, your phone number is sensitive data. Unless you’re absolutely certain about the bot’s legitimacy and purpose, it’s safer to err on the side of caution and keep your number private.