Instructions: how to buy an anonymous virtual number +888 and register in Telegram without a SIM card

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On December 6, 2022, Telegram made it possible to register in the messenger without a physical SIM card. On the Fragment platform, you can buy a random anonymous number +888 ХХХХ ХХХХ, the property of which is sold through NFT, for about $10 (9 TON). Having paid once, the user will own the number until he sells it at auction. "Durov's Code" published detailed instructions on how to buy an anonymous virtual number +888 and register in Telegram without a SIM card. You can link the number +888 to your current Telegram account or create a new one with it.

We buy a new number​

• Go to Fragment and link your Tonkeeper wallet by clicking on the “Connect TON” button (you can buy TON in the wallet through a separate mobile application on Android or iOS);

You can learn how to create your own Tonkeeper wallet and how to buy TON cryptocurrency in this article.

• go to Fragment, in the upper left corner of the site click on the “Numbers” button;
• we choose what we want: to participate in the auction and buy a unique virtual number or to buy a random one for 9 TON (≈$16). If the latter, we click the Buy instantly for 9 TON button;
• click on the button Unlock this number for 9 TON;
• in the opened Buy Random Number block, click the Buy now with Tonkeeper button;
• in the Tonkeeper application, click “Confirm”;
• your number is now in your hands - you can go back to the Fragment on the My Assets page and see for yourself!

Linking a virtual number to your current Telegram account​

• go to Telegram settings in the profile change section and click the “Change number” button;
• then enter your purchased virtual number - the messenger will identify it as anonymous in the “Country” section;
• go to the Fragment on the My Assets page, find the virtual number you purchased and click on the Get Login Code button;
• enter the code specified in the Fragment into Telegram;
• Done - you have changed your number to a virtual one!

Create a new Telegram account with a virtual number​

• log in to Telegram and enter your purchased virtual number when logging in;
• go to the Fragment on the My Assets page, find the virtual number you purchased and click on the Get Login Code button;
• enter the code specified in the Fragment into Telegram;
• go through the registration stage;
• Done - you have created an account with an anonymous virtual number!

What are the nuances?​

• Random virtual numbers are purchased instantly, bypassing the auction. They can be used and stored in the Tonkeeper wallet as NFT, and, if desired, put up for auction for sale.
• To link a virtual number to a new or old account, you must have the latest version of Telegram installed on your device. For example, if Telegram for iOS is version 9.1, the app will not be able to recognize an anonymous number. You will need Telegram version 9.2 or higher.
• if you log into your account on several devices, you won’t have to constantly visit Fragment, the messenger will prompt you to enter the code that was sent to one of your devices:

• As of today, you can only use an anonymous number to create a new Telegram account that is not linked to a SIM card, or to link an existing account. The numbers only work in Telegram.
• some virtual numbers already put up for auction can also be purchased instantly. Example: a number is put up for a minimum of 9 TON, but if you don't want to bid, Fragment offers to buy this number for 1000 TON:

• There are also options with instant purchase and for a smaller amount, but you still need to look for them. Also pay attention to numbers marked Resale - they have already been bought out and put up for resale.

At the end of November, experts in the latest beta version of the Telegram mobile client for Android found a mention of anonymous virtual phone numbers that can be purchased on the Fragment platform. These numbers will begin with the code +888, and it will be impossible to call them. They are intended specifically for working with Telegram and are used to receive confirmation codes.

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