---
title: "Check a Telegram @handle or t.me link against official handles and known impersonators"
method: GET
path: "/api/telegram-check.json"
---

# Check a Telegram @handle or t.me link against official handles and known impersonators

`GET /api/telegram-check.json`

## Request

- Base URL: `https://getbotornot.com`
- URL: `https://getbotornot.com/api/telegram-check.json`
- Auth: one of:
  - none
  - HTTP bearer

## Query parameters

- `handle` string, required

## Response `200`

status: official, impersonator, lookalike, unknown or invalid

- object
  - `status` 'official' | 'impersonator' | 'lookalike' | 'unknown' | 'invalid'
  - `handle` string
  - `message` string
  - `bot` object
  - `official_handles` object[]
  - `red_flags` string[]
  - `how_to_verify` string[]
  - `psa_source` string

## Other responses

- `400`: Missing handle
- `429`: Rate limited (30 per minute per IP)

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/getbotornot/apis/botornot-public-data-api.md) · [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/getbotornot/apis/botornot-public-data-api/llms.txt) · [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc.dev/getbotornot/apis/botornot-public-data-api/revisions/c3cc3909775d?raw)