diff --git a/internal/web/service/tgbot/tgbot_invite_test.go b/internal/web/service/tgbot/tgbot_invite_test.go
index 936e91c65..b69d99b25 100644
--- a/internal/web/service/tgbot/tgbot_invite_test.go
+++ b/internal/web/service/tgbot/tgbot_invite_test.go
@@ -216,6 +216,45 @@ func TestInviteAttemptLimit(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// Regression test: anonymous admins, channels and linked-channel posts all arrive
+// under three fixed user ids. A claim under one opened a throttle window of its
+// own and bound the client to everybody who can post that way.
+func TestClaimSentForChatIsRefused(t *testing.T) {
+	tb, calls := newInviteTgbot(t, "invitee@x")
+
+	origBy := inviteAttemptsBy
+	inviteAttemptsBy = map[int64]*inviteAttempts{}
+	t.Cleanup(func() { inviteAttemptsBy = origBy })
+
+	placeholders := []telego.User{
+		{ID: 1087968824, IsBot: true, Username: "GroupAnonymousBot"},
+		{ID: 136817688, IsBot: true, Username: "Channel_Bot"},
+		{ID: 777000, FirstName: "Telegram"},
+	}
+	for _, from := range placeholders {
+		message := commandFrom(from.ID, "/start "+mustInvitePayload(t, "sub-invite"))
+		message.From = &from
+		message.Chat = telego.Chat{ID: -1001234500001, Type: telego.ChatTypeSupergroup}
+		message.SenderChat = &message.Chat
+
+		if isAdmin, ok := tb.gateCommand(message); ok {
+			tb.answerCommand(message, message.Chat.ID, isAdmin)
+		}
+		if got := tb.levelOf(from.ID); got != levelStranger {
+			t.Errorf("placeholder user %d claimed the invite: level %d", from.ID, got)
+		}
+	}
+	if len(inviteAttemptsBy) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("throttle windows = %d, want none for placeholder users", len(inviteAttemptsBy))
+	}
+	if n := calls("sendMessage"); n != len(placeholders) {
+		t.Errorf("sendMessage calls = %d, want %d refusals", n, len(placeholders))
+	}
+	if outcome, _ := tb.resolveInviteToken("sub-invite", 8080); outcome != inviteBindable {
+		t.Errorf("owner's outcome afterwards = %d, want bindable", outcome)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestTgUserMentionEscapesName(t *testing.T) {
 	got := tgUserMention(&telego.User{ID: 42, FirstName: "<b>Eve</b>", Username: "eve"})
 	want := `<a href="tg://user?id=42">&lt;b&gt;Eve&lt;/b&gt;</a> @eve`
diff --git a/internal/web/service/tgbot/tgbot_level.go b/internal/web/service/tgbot/tgbot_level.go
index 0918594ea..79371a740 100644
--- a/internal/web/service/tgbot/tgbot_level.go
+++ b/internal/web/service/tgbot/tgbot_level.go
@@ -46,10 +46,19 @@ func commandAllowed(level userLevel, command string) bool {
 	return commandsByLevel[level][command]
 }
 
+// sentForChat reports that no account stands behind message.From: a post by an
+// anonymous admin or a channel carries a placeholder user shared by everybody.
+func sentForChat(message *telego.Message) bool {
+	return message.SenderChat != nil || message.From.IsBot
+}
+
 // gateCommand reports whether a command reaches answerCommand, and as whom. A
 // stranger's refused command gets no reply, so the bot reveals nothing to probe.
 func (t *Tgbot) gateCommand(message *telego.Message) (isAdmin bool, ok bool) {
-	level := t.levelOf(message.From.ID)
+	level := levelStranger
+	if !sentForChat(message) {
+		level = t.levelOf(message.From.ID)
+	}
 	command, _, _ := tu.ParseCommand(message.Text)
 	if commandAllowed(level, command) {
 		return level == levelAdmin, true
diff --git a/internal/web/service/tgbot/tgbot_level_test.go b/internal/web/service/tgbot/tgbot_level_test.go
index 70c7590c1..47d0ad66c 100644
--- a/internal/web/service/tgbot/tgbot_level_test.go
+++ b/internal/web/service/tgbot/tgbot_level_test.go
@@ -79,6 +79,24 @@ func TestGateCommand(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// Regression test: a message sent on behalf of a chat carries a placeholder user
+// shared by everybody, so whatever that id is bound to, its sender is a stranger.
+func TestGateCommandIgnoresPlaceholderSender(t *testing.T) {
+	tb, calls := newLevelTgbot(t)
+
+	for _, from := range []int64{ownerTgID, 1} {
+		message := commandFrom(from, "/usage "+ownerMail)
+		message.Chat = telego.Chat{ID: -100200, Type: telego.ChatTypeSupergroup}
+		message.SenderChat = &message.Chat
+		if isAdmin, ok := tb.gateCommand(message); ok || isAdmin {
+			t.Errorf("gateCommand(%d for a chat) = (%v, %v), want (false, false)", from, isAdmin, ok)
+		}
+	}
+	if n := calls("sendMessage"); n != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("sendMessage calls = %d, want 0", n)
+	}
+}
+
 // Regression test: a stranger's forged callback must be answered, so the button
 // stops spinning, and must never reach answerCallback.
 func TestGateCallbackStopsStrangers(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/internal/web/service/tgbot/tgbot_router.go b/internal/web/service/tgbot/tgbot_router.go
index e883401bb..206ca5c39 100644
--- a/internal/web/service/tgbot/tgbot_router.go
+++ b/internal/web/service/tgbot/tgbot_router.go
@@ -258,6 +258,12 @@ func (t *Tgbot) answerCommand(message *telego.Message, chatId int64, isAdmin boo
 		msg += t.I18nBot("tgbot.commands.pleaseChoose")
 	case "start":
 		if len(commandArgs) > 0 {
+			// A placeholder user can be neither throttled nor bound, so its claim is
+			// refused before it counts: the link works from the account's own chat.
+			if sentForChat(message) {
+				t.sendNotice(chatId, t.I18nBot("tgbot.messages.inviteInvalid"))
+				return
+			}
 			if !isAdmin && !t.allowInviteAttempt(message.From) {
 				t.sendNotice(chatId, t.I18nBot("tgbot.messages.inviteRateLimited"))
 				return
@@ -265,7 +271,7 @@ func (t *Tgbot) answerCommand(message *telego.Message, chatId int64, isAdmin boo
 			t.claimInvite(chatId, message.From.ID, commandArgs[0])
 		}
 		// A stranger learns only its ChatID, which is what an admin needs to bind it.
-		if !isAdmin && t.levelOf(message.From.ID) == levelStranger {
+		if !isAdmin && (sentForChat(message) || t.levelOf(message.From.ID) == levelStranger) {
 			t.sendNotice(chatId, t.I18nBot("tgbot.answers.askToAddUserId", "TgUserID=="+strconv.FormatInt(message.From.ID, 10)))
 			return
 		}