BotForSale: Telegram Trading Bot

Buying and selling inside a messenger is handy until it turns into a mess of chats, transfers and screenshots. BotForSale tries to gather trading in one place: it has a menu, a personal account, tariffs and a help section.

The bot belongs to the e-commerce category, and its structure is visible from its command list. That is the main thing known about it in advance.

Four doors into the bot

The commands are simple, and each one leads to its own section.

• /start: the main menu, where you start.
• /account: your personal account.
• /tariffs: the plans, meaning the terms the service works on.
• /help: support when something is unclear.

A tariffs section means some features can be paid. Before you connect anything, open it and read the terms in full.

Starting without wasting money

1. Press /start and walk through the menu items.
2. Open /tariffs and compare the terms.
3. Look into /account and check what data the bot keeps about you.
4. If questions remain, use /help.

Do not rush to pay. First work out exactly what you are paying for and if you can cancel.

Trading in Telegram without losing money

Deals between strangers always carry risk, and Telegram is no exception. A few simple rules cut the chance of getting scammed by a lot.

• Skip prepayment to someone with no deal history or reviews.
• Check the goods before paying: ask to see them working, rather than only in a picture.
• Pay through Telegram's built-in payment tools or methods that allow refunds, not by card transfer to a stranger.
• Never share SMS codes or passwords, even if a "manager" asks.

Digital goods call for extra care

If the deal involves digital assets, accounts or access, make sure the seller has the right to hand them over. Selling someone else's data or hacked accounts is illegal, and the buyer can lose both the money and the goods.

A bot on its own does not guarantee that the people in a deal are honest. Only a proven payment and delivery process does.

A word on payments inside bots

Telegram lets bots accept payments through its own payment interface and takes no commission for it. Payment providers and the service itself may still charge fees, so compare the final amount, instead of the sticker price.

Keep the chat history and receipts at least until you are sure the deal is complete and the item works.