diff --git a/src/modules/permissions/channel-approval.ts b/src/modules/permissions/channel-approval.ts
index caef81563..e4b2142d7 100644
--- a/src/modules/permissions/channel-approval.ts
+++ b/src/modules/permissions/channel-approval.ts
@@ -101,13 +101,25 @@ export async function requestChannelApproval(input: RequestChannelApprovalInput)
     return;
   }
 
-  const originName = originMg?.name ?? originMg?.platform_id ?? 'an unfamiliar chat';
-  const isGroup = originMg?.is_group === 1;
+  const isGroup = event.message?.isGroup ?? originMg?.is_group === 1;
+
+  // Extract sender name from the event content for a human-readable card.
+  let senderName: string | undefined;
+  try {
+    const parsed = JSON.parse(event.message.content) as Record<string, unknown>;
+    senderName = (parsed.senderName ?? parsed.sender) as string | undefined;
+  } catch {
+    // non-critical — fall through to generic wording
+  }
 
   const title = isGroup ? '📣 Bot mentioned in new chat' : '💬 New direct message';
   const question = isGroup
-    ? `Your agent was mentioned in ${originName} on ${originChannelType}. Wire it to ${target.name} and let it engage?`
-    : `Someone DM'd your agent on ${originChannelType} (${originName}). Wire it to ${target.name} and let it respond?`;
+    ? senderName
+      ? `${senderName} mentioned your agent in a ${originChannelType} channel. Wire it to ${target.name} and let it engage?`
+      : `Your agent was mentioned in a ${originChannelType} channel. Wire it to ${target.name} and let it engage?`
+    : senderName
+      ? `${senderName} DM'd your agent on ${originChannelType}. Wire it to ${target.name} and let it respond?`
+      : `Someone DM'd your agent on ${originChannelType}. Wire it to ${target.name} and let it respond?`;
 
   createPendingChannelApproval({
     messaging_group_id: messagingGroupId,
diff --git a/src/modules/permissions/sender-approval.ts b/src/modules/permissions/sender-approval.ts
index e08123ac1..a20e14f3e 100644
--- a/src/modules/permissions/sender-approval.ts
+++ b/src/modules/permissions/sender-approval.ts
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ export async function requestSenderApproval(input: RequestSenderApprovalInput):
 
   const approvalId = generateId();
   const senderDisplay = senderName && senderName.length > 0 ? senderName : senderIdentity;
-  const originName = originMg?.name ?? originMg?.platform_id ?? 'an unfamiliar chat';
+  const originName = originMg?.name ?? `a ${originChannelType} channel`;
 
   const title = '👤 New sender';
   const question = `${senderDisplay} wants to talk to your agent in ${originName}. Allow?`;