Telegram founder Pavel Durov reported an increase in fraud surrounding collectible gifts, unique numbers, and rare usernames that exist as digital assets (NFTs). According to him, assets that previously cost just a few dollars can today sell for tens of thousands, with some exceeding $100,000.
Against the backdrop of rapidly rising prices, cases of extortion have increased. Durov noted that scammers are blackmailing users, demanding valuable usernames or money under the threat of publishing personal data. Some channels have turned this into a business—posting compromising material and offering to delete it for a reward.
«This is both illegal and immoral. We will not tolerate such practices,» he stated. Durov urged victims to report extortion through direct messages on his channel and to attach as much evidence as possible. According to him, the Telegram team intends to block scammers and maintain the security of the platform.
Durov announced the launch of tokenized gifts and stickers in the spring of 2024 while speaking at the TOKEN2049 crypto conference in Dubai. In June, he stated that the TON blockchain had risen to second place in the world in terms of NFT transaction volume after Ethereum amid the growing popularity of gifts and stickers in NFT format. Following this, well-known NFT collections, including Bored Ape Yacht Club and Azuki, launched their own sets.
Recently, a set of tokenized gifts from American rapper Snoop Dogg was sold in 30 minutes, with sales totaling nearly $12 million.
