How to report a spammer in Telegram

Reporting a spammer in Telegram takes just a few taps — you can flag individual messages, entire accounts, or spam channels directly through the app. Telegram reviews reports and can restrict or ban accounts that violate its Terms of Service. Here's exactly how to do it across every platform and situation.

How Telegram Handles Spam Reports

Telegram uses a combination of automated systems and human moderators to process spam complaints. When you report a user or message, the report goes to Telegram's anti-spam team, which evaluates the content against their policies. Accounts found guilty of spamming can face temporary restrictions, permanent bans, or have their channels and groups shut down entirely.

Telegram distinguishes between several types of spam:

Unsolicited bulk messages — sending the same content to many users
Scam and phishing links — fake giveaways, clone channels, credential harvesting
Bot abuse — automated accounts flooding groups or DMs
Advertising spam — uninvited promotional messages in groups or private chats
Fake accounts — impersonating real people or organizations

Reports are anonymous — the spammer will never know who reported them.

Reporting a Spammer in Private Chats (DMs)

On Mobile (iOS & Android)

Step 1: Open the spam conversation

Navigate to the chat with the spammer. If you've already deleted it, check your Archived Chats or search by username.

Step 2: Tap the user's profile

Tap the user's name at the top of the chat to open their profile page.

Step 3: Select "Report"

Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner and choose Report. On iOS, you may need to scroll down to find this option.

Step 4: Choose the reason

Select Spam from the list of report categories. You can also choose Fake Account or Scam if those apply more accurately.

Step 5: Confirm and optionally block

Telegram will ask if you also want to Block the user and Delete the chat. It's recommended to do both — blocking prevents future contact, and deleting removes the spam from your chat list.

On Desktop (Telegram Desktop / Web)

Open the chat with the spammer
Click the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner
Select Report
Choose Spam as the reason
Optionally check Block user and Delete chat

The "Report Spam" Banner

When someone who isn't in your contacts messages you for the first time, Telegram automatically displays a "Report Spam" banner at the top of the chat. Tapping this banner is the fastest way to report — it simultaneously reports, blocks, and deletes the conversation in one action.

Reporting Spam in Groups and Channels

Reporting a Specific Message

Long-press (mobile) or right-click (desktop) on the spam message
Select Report from the context menu
Choose Spam as the reason
Select additional messages from the same sender if needed — Telegram lets you batch-report multiple messages at once

Reporting an Entire Channel or Group

Open the channel or group profile by tapping its name
Tap the three-dot menu (⋮)
Select Report
Choose the appropriate reason: Spam, Fake Account, Violence, Child Abuse, Pornography, or Other
Add optional details to help moderators understand the issue

Admin Tools for Group Owners

If you manage a group, you have additional anti-spam powers:

Delete and Report — removes the message and sends a report simultaneously
Ban User — removes the spammer and prevents them from rejoining
Restrict User — limits what a user can do (no links, no media, etc.)
Aggressive Anti-Spam — enable Telegram's built-in anti-spam bot in Group Settings → Administrators → Aggressive Anti-Spam (available for groups with 200+ members)

Reporting via @SpamBot

For more serious or persistent spam issues, Telegram provides an official bot:

Step 1: Open @SpamBot

Search for @SpamBot in Telegram and start a conversation.

Step 2: Follow the prompts

The bot will guide you through the reporting process. You can:

Report spam in private messages
Report spam in groups
Appeal your own account restriction (if you were falsely flagged)

Step 3: Forward evidence

Forward the spam messages directly to @SpamBot for review. This gives moderators the exact content and sender metadata.

Note: @SpamBot is also where you go if your account was incorrectly flagged as spam. You can submit an appeal directly through the bot.

Reporting Spam via Email

For critical cases — phishing operations, large-scale scam networks, or impersonation of real businesses — you can email Telegram directly:

General abuse:
DMCA/copyright:

Include screenshots, usernames, channel links, and a clear description of the violation. Email reports typically receive a response within 24–48 hours for serious violations.

What Happens After You Report

Telegram's response depends on the severity and volume of reports:

Scenario Typical Outcome Timeline Single spam message Message reviewed, possible warning 1–3 days Multiple reports on same account Account restricted or banned 12–48 hours Scam/phishing channel Channel taken down 24–72 hours Large-scale spam operation Network-wide ban Varies

Telegram does not send you a notification about the outcome of your report. However, if a channel or account gets banned, you'll notice it disappears or shows "This account has been deleted."

Tips & Best Practices

Report promptly: Fresh reports are more actionable. The sooner you flag spam, the faster Telegram can act before the spammer reaches more people.
Batch-select messages: When reporting in a group, select all spam messages from the same user in one report. Multiple messages strengthen the case.
Use the correct category: Choosing "Spam" for actual spam and "Scam" for phishing helps Telegram prioritize and route reports correctly.
Enable two-step verification: Spammers sometimes try to hijack accounts. Go to Settings → Privacy and Security → Two-Step Verification to protect yourself.
Adjust privacy settings: Limit who can add you to groups under Settings → Privacy and Security → Groups & Channels — set it to My Contacts to reduce group spam significantly.
Use anti-spam bots in groups: If you're an admin, consider adding moderation bots like @GroupHelpBot or enabling Telegram's native aggressive anti-spam filter for groups over 200 members.

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Engaging with the spammer before reporting
Why it's wrong: Responding to spam — even to say "stop" — confirms your account is active. This can lead to more spam from the same network.
How to avoid: Report and block immediately without replying.

Mistake 2: Only blocking without reporting
Why it's wrong: Blocking protects you personally but does nothing to stop the spammer from targeting others. The account remains active.
How to avoid: Always report and block. The report helps Telegram take action for the entire community.

Mistake 3: Reporting legitimate users you simply disagree with
Why it's wrong: Abuse of the reporting system can reduce your report credibility. Telegram tracks report accuracy over time.
How to avoid: Only report genuine spam, scams, or policy violations. Use the mute or block features for users you'd rather not hear from.

Mistake 4: Deleting the chat before reporting
Why it's wrong: Once you delete the conversation, you lose the ability to report those specific messages through the app.
How to avoid: Report first, then delete. If you already deleted, use @SpamBot and forward any saved screenshots.

Protecting Your Channel's Reputation

If you run a Telegram channel, spam comments and fake subscribers can damage your credibility. Having a clean, well-moderated channel also matters for your web presence — platforms like tgchannel.space that mirror channel content to the web display comments and engagement publicly, making spam even more visible to a broader audience. Keep your channel clean by enabling comment filters and regularly reviewing discussion groups linked to your channel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Telegram see who reported a spammer?
Telegram knows who filed the report internally, but the spammer cannot see who reported them. Reports are completely anonymous from the reported user's perspective.

How many reports does it take to get someone banned?
There is no fixed number. A single report with strong evidence of phishing may result in an immediate ban, while nuisance spam might require reports from multiple users. Quality and specificity of reports matter more than quantity.

What if I accidentally reported someone?
There is no "undo" button for reports. However, a single erroneous report is unlikely to result in action against someone who isn't actually spamming. If the person was wrongly restricted, they can appeal through @SpamBot.

Can I report spam in secret chats?
No. Secret chats are end-to-end encrypted, and Telegram cannot access their content. You can only block the user from within the secret chat. For reporting, you would need to screenshot the content and send it to .

Does reporting a channel remove me from it?
No. Reporting a channel does not automatically unsubscribe you. You'll need to leave the channel separately after filing your report.