What started as a lighthearted experiment in a psychology practicum quickly turned into a semester of discoveries no textbook could offer. My students and I set out to analyze disinformation in German Telegram channels, planning to monitor these groups’ activities up to the European elections. But what awaited us exceeded all expectations: we encountered a bizarre mix of COVID-19 deniers, far-right groups, and farmers’ protests—groups that seemed like harmless eccentrics at first but revealed themselves as part of a more sophisticated disinformation strategy. A pivotal moment was when we came across a report by Austrian broadcaster AUF1, which pulled us further into the world of Russian disinformation networks than we’d ever anticipated. What did we ultimately find? A network straight out of a spy novel, featuring former RTde executives, influencers, AfD politicians. Fortunately, the most shocking was their OPSEC. This is why in this talk, I can take you on a journey through the absurdities and dark depths of this world, sharing our surprising findings and showing how even with minimal effort, one can glimpse behind the scenes of these “coincidental connections.”