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Except Telegram requires you to pay to have the option of only allowing your contacts to message you.

And even then, if the spammer buys premium, they can still message you!

True, but then the spammer still needs to have your phone number or your @username.

Sadly there are too many data leaks so those phone numbers are out there.

Phone numbers aren't secret. There's too few of them. It's feasible to send messages to every phone number.

The spam messages I receive don't address me by name. They're generic.