diff --git a/PROJECTS/beginner/canary-token-generator/backend/internal/notify/telegram/sender.go b/PROJECTS/beginner/canary-token-generator/backend/internal/notify/telegram/sender.go
index 80c49c46..49de6952 100644
--- a/PROJECTS/beginner/canary-token-generator/backend/internal/notify/telegram/sender.go
+++ b/PROJECTS/beginner/canary-token-generator/backend/internal/notify/telegram/sender.go
@@ -249,11 +249,11 @@ func formatGeo(evt *event.Event) string {
 	var parens string
 	switch {
 	case city != "" && country != "":
-		parens = "(" + EscapeMD(city) + ", " + EscapeMD(country) + ")"
+		parens = `\(` + EscapeMD(city) + ", " + EscapeMD(country) + `\)`
 	case country != "":
-		parens = "(" + EscapeMD(country) + ")"
+		parens = `\(` + EscapeMD(country) + `\)`
 	case city != "":
-		parens = "(" + EscapeMD(city) + ")"
+		parens = `\(` + EscapeMD(city) + `\)`
 	}
 	if parens == "" && asnOrg == "" {
 		return ""
diff --git a/PROJECTS/beginner/canary-token-generator/backend/internal/notify/telegram/sender_test.go b/PROJECTS/beginner/canary-token-generator/backend/internal/notify/telegram/sender_test.go
index d83c8c87..02411320 100644
--- a/PROJECTS/beginner/canary-token-generator/backend/internal/notify/telegram/sender_test.go
+++ b/PROJECTS/beginner/canary-token-generator/backend/internal/notify/telegram/sender_test.go
@@ -186,8 +186,11 @@ func TestSender_Send_MessageContainsKeyFields(t *testing.T) {
 	)
 	require.Contains(t, text, "envfile")
 	require.Contains(t, text, `203\.0\.113\.45`, "IP dots escaped")
-	require.Contains(t, text, "Toronto")
-	require.Contains(t, text, "CA")
+	require.Contains(t,
+		text,
+		`\(Toronto, CA\)`,
+		"geo wrapping parens escaped (V2 reserved chars)",
+	)
 	require.Contains(t, text, `Cloudflare, Inc\.`, "asn_org . escaped")
 	require.Contains(t, text, "View full event timeline", "manage link present")
 	require.Contains(t,