Before using one, separate the service you recognize from the operator you are actually talking to.
Check who runs it
OpenAI publishes a guide to its official websites, apps and communication channels. Use that as an authority check rather than trusting words such as “official” in a Telegram description. A claimed affiliation needs a link from the company itself. Source: OpenAI's verification guide.
A third-party bot can provide access to an AI model through its own service. That does not make the bot an OpenAI product. Its prices, limits, support and data practices can be different.
If the operator doesn't identify itself or explain the service, I would choose an option with clearer documentation. You shouldn't have to guess where a paid subscription is going.
Don't assume the model name proves the model
A bot can put a model name in its menu or description. That is a provider claim. Asking the bot “Which model are you?” isn't an independent verification method either.
Check the operator's documentation and the current plan details. If access to a particular model is the reason you are paying, look for an explanation of how that access is provided and what happens when a limit is reached.
You can still evaluate the service with a task of your own. Just keep two questions separate: Is the result useful, and has the provider substantiated its model claim?
Start with ordinary text
Try a small, non-sensitive task before sending files or connecting accounts:
Make this paragraph easier to read. Preserve every factual detail. Keep my direct tone and remove repeated points. Don't add new claims. After the rewrite, list anything that was unclear in my original text. Paragraph: [your text]
Compare the result with the original. Look for changed numbers, invented explanations and a tone that no longer sounds like you.
For more tasks, use the Telegram AI prompt collection. These instructions are useful across assistants; they don't depend on a logo or a specific model label.
Understand what you are paying for
Read the bot's own allowance, renewal and cancellation terms. Don't assume a separate ChatGPT subscription is included, required or connected unless the operator clearly documents that arrangement.
Check whether charges are per request, per token, per file or part of a recurring plan. A cheap-looking balance is hard to compare if the unit isn't explained.
Keep account access separate from chat
OpenAI advises users not to share account login details over social media. Don't send passwords or sign-in codes to a bot claiming it needs them to activate an AI account. Source: OpenAI's account communication guidance.
For the Telegram side, read what bots can receive. If you want documented services to investigate, start with the AI bot shortlist and choose according to your task.