Securing a Telegram community isn't one big decision — it's fifteen small ones that compound. Miss a few and you've left doors open for scammers.
This checklist covers everything from group settings to automation to member behavior. Work through it, check off each item, and your community will be meaningfully harder to attack.
Group settings
1. Restrict who can add members
Open invite links spread to the wrong hands. In group settings:
- [ ] Disable "Everyone can add members" — only admins should invite
- [ ] Use invite links with member limits and expiration dates
- [ ] Regenerate links after public events or promotions
2. Control message permissions for new members
Slow mode and post restrictions stop drive-by spam:
- [ ] Enable slow mode (even 30 seconds helps)
- [ ] Consider restricting new members from posting links for 24 hours
- [ ] Disable media/stickers for members if not needed
3. Hide member list from non-admins
Scammers scrape member lists to target DMs:
- [ ] Set "Who can see members" to Admins only (if your group type allows)
- [ ] Warn members about unsolicited DMs in your pinned message
Admin team
4. Audit admin permissions monthly
Too many admins with too much power creates risk:
- [ ] Remove inactive admins
- [ ] Limit "Add new admins" permission to owners
- [ ] Review who can delete messages, ban users, and pin posts
5. Sync your admin whitelist
Your security bot needs to know who your real admins are:
- [ ] Run
/sync_admins(or equivalent) after every admin change - [ ] Verify the bot recognized all current admins
- [ ] Check that former admins were removed from protection
6. Use unique, unspoofable admin identities
Make impersonation harder:
- [ ] Admins should have usernames (not just display names)
- [ ] Avoid generic names like "Support" or "Admin" alone
- [ ] Consider a shared team identifier (e.g., "[BG] Name") that's hard to fake convincingly
Automation and bots
7. Add a security bot with real-time detection
Manual moderation can't keep up:
- [ ] Deploy a bot that detects impersonation on join
- [ ] Enable auto-ban or auto-kick for detected threats
- [ ] Configure alerts so you know when action is taken
8. Enable link filtering
Most scams involve malicious links:
- [ ] Whitelist only approved domains
- [ ] Delete messages with unknown links automatically
- [ ] Block common URL shorteners (bit.ly, t.co, etc.) unless explicitly allowed
9. Set up join filters
Stop bad actors before they post:
- [ ] Block accounts with no profile photo
- [ ] Block accounts created in the last 24-48 hours (optional, aggressive)
- [ ] Limit join rate to prevent raid floods
10. Configure message moderation
Catch spam patterns:
- [ ] Filter repeated messages (flooding)
- [ ] Detect and delete common scam phrases ("connect wallet", "claim airdrop")
- [ ] Auto-delete forwarded messages from non-whitelisted channels
Member education
11. Pin a security warning
Set expectations immediately:
- [ ] State that admins/support will never DM first
- [ ] List official channels and websites
- [ ] Warn about impersonation and verification scams
12. Create an FAQ channel or document
Reduce the questions that scammers exploit:
- [ ] Cover common topics (staking, airdrops, support contacts)
- [ ] Link to it in your welcome message
- [ ] Update it when new scam patterns emerge
13. Remind members periodically
Warnings fade from memory:
- [ ] Re-pin security notes after major announcements
- [ ] Post occasional reminders about DM scams
- [ ] Call out new scam patterns when you see them in the wild
Incident response
14. Have a ban-first policy for confirmed threats
Hesitation costs you:
- [ ] Don't warn impersonators — ban immediately
- [ ] Document bans in a mod channel for the team
- [ ] Use global ban lists if available to prevent repeat offenders
15. Review bot logs regularly
Detection only works if you're watching:
- [ ] Check what the bot has flagged and actioned
- [ ] Tune settings if you see false positives
- [ ] Verify nothing is slipping through
Use this as a recurring audit
Security isn't a one-time setup. Run through this checklist:
- After onboarding a new admin
- After a security incident
- Every quarter as a maintenance check
Each unchecked box is an opportunity for a scammer. Completing this list meaningfully reduces your risk.
Tools that help
BeefyGuard covers steps 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 14 out of the box:
- Real-time impersonation detection with admin sync
- Link and message filters
- Join controls
- Auto-moderation with dashboard management
See features, check pricing, or read the setup guide to get started.