When Trust Becomes a Thief's Weapon

When Trust Becomes a Thief's Weapon

Aug 16 , 2025. By Eden Sahle ( Eden Sahle is founder and CEO of Yada Technology Plc. She has studied law with a focus on international economic law. She can be reached at edensah2000@gmail.com. )

In recent months, I've spoken to several contacts who fell victim to a troubling online scam—one that hijacks personal Telegram accounts, deceives close friends and family, and leaves innocent people deeply in debt. This wave of fraud exploits not only digital security gaps but also trust within tight-knit communities.

The scam targets everyday Telegram users, seizing their accounts to trick friends and relatives into sending large sums of money. By the time the victim realises the truth, the scammer has disappeared with the cash, leaving behind financial hardship and broken trust.

The scheme relies on manipulation and speed. Scammers pose as Telegram security agents or officials, claiming they must verify the account. They request the victim's password or one-time login code, making the demand sound urgent and legitimate.

Many comply, believing they are protecting their accounts. In reality, once scammers get this information, they seize control, lock out the rightful owner, and alter recovery settings. The victim's Telegram account is now fully under their control.

Once inside, the scammers impersonate the victim. They send messages in Amharic to friends, relatives, and colleagues, claiming to face a sudden family emergency. The emotional pull is strong, and because the request comes from a trusted contact, many send money without question.

They claim the victim's bank is inaccessible and provide their details instead. Under emotional pressure, recipients act fast, skipping verification.

Meanwhile, victims are powerless. Locked out of their accounts, they watch helplessly as their reputation and relationships suffer. Some try desperate measures, such as upgrading to premium and deleting their accounts to alert Telegram for urgent help.

Even then, recovery can take days. For my contacts, it took a full week for Telegram to remove the hackers and restore access. By then, the money had vanished.

When the real account owner regains control, the damage is often severe, with hundreds of thousands of birr gone, transferred directly into the scammers' bank accounts.

When police investigate, they often find the scammers' accounts registered with IDs from regional states, making tracking difficult. The scam is effective because it targets individuals who personally know the victim, making them more likely to send money quickly.

An information gap worsens the problem. Many do not realise that Telegram, or any legitimate platform, will never ask for a password or login code. Victims without Two-Step Verification are especially vulnerable; even if someone gets their one-time code, they still cannot log in if this protection is active.

Recovering the account is just the beginning. Victims face huge debts as friends and relatives expect repayment, even though the victim never received the money. In some cases, those who never sent money still demand compensation, further damaging relationships.

Approaching law enforcement can be equally challenging. In many areas, police have limited training in cybercrime, and some initially refuse to open cases. Victims often push for days before an officer agrees to investigate.

Eventually, a sergeant may freeze the scammers' accounts and trace the IDs used to open them. Yet by that time, the scammers have usually withdrawn the funds. Months later, they remain at large.

Law enforcement is still struggling to keep pace with the complexity of online fraud. Even when identities are found, cross-regional cooperation is slow, and resources are scarce.

Police must be equipped to recognise, document, and investigate digital theft. Laws should clearly define and address liability in online impersonation scams.

This scam thrives on two elements: trust and speed. Trust becomes the scammer's greatest weapon, and speed denies victims time to react. Recovery is slow, justice uncertain, and financial losses often permanent.

Prevention is the safest route. Once a scammer takes over an account, victims must fight not just for access but to protect their reputation, relationships, and financial future.

One of the most difficult burdens for victims is the pressure to repay stolen money, often driven by a sense of moral responsibility. Though they were defrauded, they acknowledge that their friends and family acted in good faith.

This obligation can push victims deeper into debt and prolong emotional harm. In some cases, others accuse the victim of being the scammer, pretending to be hacked to mask theft.

Such suspicion adds another layer of pain. Instead of sympathy, victims face doubt. In communities where reputation is everything, such accusations can be as damaging as the financial loss.

Often, these accusations come from people who do not understand how account takeovers work. They cannot believe a criminal could access an account, send messages to dozens, and vanish without a trace. For them, the more straightforward explanation is dishonesty.

This misunderstanding can destroy friendships, strain family ties, and isolate victims. A lack of public awareness fuels these suspicions, as online impersonation is still unfamiliar in Ethiopia.

Without a better understanding, bystanders misinterpret events and assign blame wrongly. This makes community education crucial, explaining how scams operate and how to recognise genuine victims.

Prevention demands a habit of verification, stronger safeguards, and treating online security as part of daily life.

PUBLISHED ON Aug 16,2025 [ VOL 26 , NO 1320]