Restrict your Telegram bot to approved users only

Only people on your approved list can use your Telegram bot, and you get alerted when someone else tries.

How the work actually flows

It branches. Exactly one path is taken.

Pattern: Exclusive Choice (4)

flowchart TD trig>"user messages the bot"]:::trig s0["receive message"]:::task s1["check user against approved list"]:::task s2["respond to user"]:::task trig --> s0 s0 --> s1 gx{"× is user approved"}:::gate s1 --> gx p00["respond normally"]:::task gx -->|"approved user"| p00 p10["send denial message"]:::task gx -->|"unapproved user"| p10 p11["notify owner of attempt"]:::task p10 --> p11 p00 --> s2 p11 --> s2 out[/"only approved users get responses"/]:::out pay{{"blocks unauthorized use and cost"}}:::pay s2 --> out out --> pay classDef task fill:#e7f6fe,stroke:#34b8f0,color:#2c2a29 classDef svc fill:#f6f8fa,stroke:#7c8795,color:#2c2a29 classDef mi fill:#e7f6fe,stroke:#0079a8,color:#2c2a29,stroke-width:2px classDef human fill:#fff,stroke:#0079a8,color:#0079a8 classDef store fill:#f6f8fa,stroke:#0079a8,color:#2c2a29 classDef trig fill:#00a4eb,stroke:#0079a8,color:#fff,font-weight:bold classDef trigtime fill:#00a4eb,stroke:#0079a8,color:#fff,font-weight:bold classDef trigdata fill:#8ad4f5,stroke:#0079a8,color:#06314c,font-weight:bold classDef gate fill:#fff,stroke:#e8a23d,color:#6b4708,font-weight:bold classDef out fill:#1f9d6b,stroke:#167a53,color:#fff,font-weight:bold classDef pay fill:#06314c,stroke:#021f33,color:#fff
Starts itA stepOne path onlyResultPayoff
Build size
Standard

A mid-size build with several tools working together.

Business functions
Messaging & Notifications
Connects
Telegram

The problem it solves

Once your Telegram bot is connected to paid AI tools or sensitive features, anyone who finds it can use it, running up your bill or accessing things they shouldn't. You want a simple gatekeeper without building a whole login system.

Who it fits

Anyone running a Telegram bot connected to paid APIs or sensitive data who needs to control who can use it.

How it works

  1. Someone sends a message to your bot
  2. The system checks their Telegram user ID against your approved list
  3. If they're approved, the bot responds normally
  4. If they're not approved, they get a polite access-denied message
  5. You receive a notification with their user ID so you can decide whether to add them
What you get

Unapproved users who never get through

Only people on your approved list can use your Telegram bot, and you're alerted whenever someone else tries.

What you get

A protected bot that only responds to approved users, plus a notification for every unauthorized attempt.

What you need

A Telegram bot account.

We can build this. But should you?

The hard question is not how to build it. It is whether this is the right thing to build first.

That is what a Fractional Chief AI Officer figures out with you, before anyone writes a line of code.

Let's Talk Strategy

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