diff --git a/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/monitor/handler.body-for-agent.test.ts b/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/monitor/handler.body-for-agent.test.ts
index e1939049d8f..cbfaeac7a2e 100644
--- a/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/monitor/handler.body-for-agent.test.ts
+++ b/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/monitor/handler.body-for-agent.test.ts
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ describe("createMatrixRoomMessageHandler inbound body formatting", () => {
       "!room:example.org",
       createMatrixTextMessageEvent({
         eventId: "$reply1",
-        body: "follow up",
+        body: "@room follow up",
         relatesTo: {
           rel_type: "m.thread",
           event_id: "$thread-root",
diff --git a/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/monitor/handler.test.ts b/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/monitor/handler.test.ts
index cd151b2a16c..308cbda2349 100644
--- a/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/monitor/handler.test.ts
+++ b/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/monitor/handler.test.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import {
   __testing as sessionBindingTesting,
   registerSessionBindingAdapter,
 } from "../../../../../src/infra/outbound/session-binding-service.js";
+import { setMatrixRuntime } from "../../runtime.js";
 import {
   createMatrixHandlerTestHarness,
   createMatrixReactionEvent,
@@ -23,6 +24,23 @@ vi.mock("../send.js", () => ({
 
 beforeEach(() => {
   sessionBindingTesting.resetSessionBindingAdaptersForTests();
+  setMatrixRuntime({
+    channel: {
+      mentions: {
+        matchesMentionPatterns: (text: string, patterns: RegExp[]) =>
+          patterns.some((pattern) => pattern.test(text)),
+      },
+      media: {
+        saveMediaBuffer: vi.fn(),
+      },
+    },
+    config: {
+      loadConfig: () => ({}),
+    },
+    state: {
+      resolveStateDir: () => "/tmp",
+    },
+  } as never);
 });
 
 function createReactionHarness(params?: {
@@ -62,7 +80,7 @@ describe("matrix monitor handler pairing account scope", () => {
       "!room:example.org",
       createMatrixTextMessageEvent({
         eventId: "$event1",
-        body: "hello",
+        body: "@room hello",
         mentions: { room: true },
       }),
     );
@@ -71,7 +89,7 @@ describe("matrix monitor handler pairing account scope", () => {
       "!room:example.org",
       createMatrixTextMessageEvent({
         eventId: "$event2",
-        body: "hello again",
+        body: "@room hello again",
         mentions: { room: true },
       }),
     );
@@ -93,7 +111,7 @@ describe("matrix monitor handler pairing account scope", () => {
       const makeEvent = (id: string): MatrixRawEvent =>
         createMatrixTextMessageEvent({
           eventId: id,
-          body: "hello",
+          body: "@room hello",
           mentions: { room: true },
         });
 
@@ -214,6 +232,26 @@ describe("matrix monitor handler pairing account scope", () => {
     );
   });
 
+  it("drops forged metadata-only mentions before agent routing", async () => {
+    const { handler, recordInboundSession, resolveAgentRoute } = createMatrixHandlerTestHarness({
+      isDirectMessage: false,
+      mentionRegexes: [/@bot/i],
+      getMemberDisplayName: async () => "sender",
+    });
+
+    await handler(
+      "!room:example.org",
+      createMatrixTextMessageEvent({
+        eventId: "$spoofed-mention",
+        body: "hello there",
+        mentions: { user_ids: ["@bot:example.org"] },
+      }),
+    );
+
+    expect(resolveAgentRoute).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(recordInboundSession).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
   it("records thread starter context for inbound thread replies", async () => {
     const { handler, finalizeInboundContext, recordInboundSession } =
       createMatrixHandlerTestHarness({
@@ -234,7 +272,7 @@ describe("matrix monitor handler pairing account scope", () => {
       "!room:example.org",
       createMatrixTextMessageEvent({
         eventId: "$reply1",
-        body: "follow up",
+        body: "@room follow up",
         relatesTo: {
           rel_type: "m.thread",
           event_id: "$root",
@@ -301,7 +339,7 @@ describe("matrix monitor handler pairing account scope", () => {
       "!room:example",
       createMatrixTextMessageEvent({
         eventId: "$reply1",
-        body: "follow up",
+        body: "@room follow up",
         relatesTo: {
           rel_type: "m.thread",
           event_id: "$root",
diff --git a/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/monitor/mentions.test.ts b/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/monitor/mentions.test.ts
index f1ee615e7ef..4407b006add 100644
--- a/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/monitor/mentions.test.ts
+++ b/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/monitor/mentions.test.ts
@@ -19,7 +19,22 @@ describe("resolveMentions", () => {
   const mentionRegexes = [/@bot/i];
 
   describe("m.mentions field", () => {
-    it("detects mention via m.mentions.user_ids", () => {
+    it("detects mention via m.mentions.user_ids when the visible text also mentions the bot", () => {
+      const result = resolveMentions({
+        content: {
+          msgtype: "m.text",
+          body: "hello @bot",
+          "m.mentions": { user_ids: ["@bot:matrix.org"] },
+        },
+        userId,
+        text: "hello @bot",
+        mentionRegexes,
+      });
+      expect(result.wasMentioned).toBe(true);
+      expect(result.hasExplicitMention).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    it("does not trust forged m.mentions.user_ids without a visible mention", () => {
       const result = resolveMentions({
         content: {
           msgtype: "m.text",
@@ -30,11 +45,25 @@ describe("resolveMentions", () => {
         text: "hello",
         mentionRegexes,
       });
-      expect(result.wasMentioned).toBe(true);
-      expect(result.hasExplicitMention).toBe(true);
+      expect(result.wasMentioned).toBe(false);
+      expect(result.hasExplicitMention).toBe(false);
     });
 
-    it("detects room mention via m.mentions.room", () => {
+    it("detects room mention via visible @room text", () => {
+      const result = resolveMentions({
+        content: {
+          msgtype: "m.text",
+          body: "@room hello everyone",
+          "m.mentions": { room: true },
+        },
+        userId,
+        text: "@room hello everyone",
+        mentionRegexes,
+      });
+      expect(result.wasMentioned).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    it("does not trust forged m.mentions.room without visible @room text", () => {
       const result = resolveMentions({
         content: {
           msgtype: "m.text",
@@ -45,7 +74,8 @@ describe("resolveMentions", () => {
         text: "hello everyone",
         mentionRegexes,
       });
-      expect(result.wasMentioned).toBe(true);
+      expect(result.wasMentioned).toBe(false);
+      expect(result.hasExplicitMention).toBe(false);
     });
   });
 
@@ -119,6 +149,35 @@ describe("resolveMentions", () => {
       });
       expect(result.wasMentioned).toBe(false);
     });
+
+    it("does not trust hidden matrix.to links behind unrelated visible text", () => {
+      const result = resolveMentions({
+        content: {
+          msgtype: "m.text",
+          body: "click here: hello",
+          formatted_body: '<a href="https://matrix.to/#/@bot:matrix.org">click here</a>: hello',
+        },
+        userId,
+        text: "click here: hello",
+        mentionRegexes: [],
+      });
+      expect(result.wasMentioned).toBe(false);
+    });
+
+    it("detects mention when the visible label still names the bot", () => {
+      const result = resolveMentions({
+        content: {
+          msgtype: "m.text",
+          body: "@bot: hello",
+          formatted_body:
+            '<a href="https://matrix.to/#/@bot:matrix.org"><span>@bot</span></a>: hello',
+        },
+        userId,
+        text: "@bot: hello",
+        mentionRegexes: [],
+      });
+      expect(result.wasMentioned).toBe(true);
+    });
   });
 
   describe("regex patterns", () => {
diff --git a/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/monitor/mentions.ts b/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/monitor/mentions.ts
index aa67386221a..a8e5b7b0eb2 100644
--- a/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/monitor/mentions.ts
+++ b/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/monitor/mentions.ts
@@ -1,27 +1,101 @@
 import { getMatrixRuntime } from "../../runtime.js";
 import type { RoomMessageEventContent } from "./types.js";
 
+function normalizeVisibleMentionText(value: string): string {
+  return value
+    .replace(/<[^>]+>/g, " ")
+    .replace(/[\u200b-\u200f\u202a-\u202e\u2060-\u206f]/g, "")
+    .replace(/\s+/g, " ")
+    .trim()
+    .toLowerCase();
+}
+
+function extractVisibleMentionText(value?: string): string {
+  return normalizeVisibleMentionText(value ?? "");
+}
+
+function resolveMatrixUserLocalpart(userId: string): string | null {
+  const trimmed = userId.trim();
+  if (!trimmed.startsWith("@")) {
+    return null;
+  }
+  const colonIndex = trimmed.indexOf(":");
+  if (colonIndex <= 1) {
+    return null;
+  }
+  return trimmed.slice(1, colonIndex).trim() || null;
+}
+
+function isVisibleMentionLabel(params: {
+  text: string;
+  userId: string;
+  mentionRegexes: RegExp[];
+}): boolean {
+  const cleaned = extractVisibleMentionText(params.text);
+  if (!cleaned) {
+    return false;
+  }
+  if (params.mentionRegexes.some((pattern) => pattern.test(cleaned))) {
+    return true;
+  }
+  const localpart = resolveMatrixUserLocalpart(params.userId);
+  const candidates = [
+    params.userId.trim().toLowerCase(),
+    localpart,
+    localpart ? `@${localpart}` : null,
+  ]
+    .filter((value): value is string => Boolean(value))
+    .map((value) => value.toLowerCase());
+  return candidates.includes(cleaned);
+}
+
+function hasVisibleRoomMention(value?: string): boolean {
+  const cleaned = extractVisibleMentionText(value);
+  return /(^|[^a-z0-9_])@room\b/i.test(cleaned);
+}
+
 /**
- * Check if the formatted_body contains a matrix.to mention link for the given user ID.
+ * Check if formatted_body contains a matrix.to link whose visible label still
+ * looks like a real mention for the given user. Do not trust href alone, since
+ * senders can hide arbitrary matrix.to links behind unrelated link text.
  * Many Matrix clients (including Element) use HTML links in formatted_body instead of
  * or in addition to the m.mentions field.
  */
-function checkFormattedBodyMention(formattedBody: string | undefined, userId: string): boolean {
-  if (!formattedBody || !userId) {
+function checkFormattedBodyMention(params: {
+  formattedBody?: string;
+  userId: string;
+  mentionRegexes: RegExp[];
+}): boolean {
+  if (!params.formattedBody || !params.userId) {
     return false;
   }
-  // Escape special regex characters in the user ID (e.g., @user:matrix.org)
-  const escapedUserId = userId.replace(/[.*+?^${}()|[\]\\]/g, "\\$&");
-  // Match matrix.to links with the user ID, handling both URL-encoded and plain formats
-  // Example: href="https://matrix.to/#/@user:matrix.org" or href="https://matrix.to/#/%40user%3Amatrix.org"
-  const plainPattern = new RegExp(`href=["']https://matrix\\.to/#/${escapedUserId}["']`, "i");
-  if (plainPattern.test(formattedBody)) {
-    return true;
+  const anchorPattern = /<a\b[^>]*href=(["'])(https:\/\/matrix\.to\/#[^"']+)\1[^>]*>(.*?)<\/a>/gis;
+  for (const match of params.formattedBody.matchAll(anchorPattern)) {
+    const href = match[2];
+    const visibleLabel = match[3] ?? "";
+    if (!href) {
+      continue;
+    }
+    try {
+      const parsed = new URL(href);
+      const fragmentTarget = decodeURIComponent(parsed.hash.replace(/^#\/?/, "").trim());
+      if (fragmentTarget !== params.userId.trim()) {
+        continue;
+      }
+      if (
+        isVisibleMentionLabel({
+          text: visibleLabel,
+          userId: params.userId,
+          mentionRegexes: params.mentionRegexes,
+        })
+      ) {
+        return true;
+      }
+    } catch {
+      continue;
+    }
   }
-  // Also check URL-encoded version (@ -> %40, : -> %3A)
-  const encodedUserId = encodeURIComponent(userId).replace(/[.*+?^${}()|[\]\\]/g, "\\$&");
-  const encodedPattern = new RegExp(`href=["']https://matrix\\.to/#/${encodedUserId}["']`, "i");
-  return encodedPattern.test(formattedBody);
+  return false;
 }
 
 export function resolveMentions(params: {
@@ -34,19 +108,30 @@ export function resolveMentions(params: {
   const mentionedUsers = Array.isArray(mentions?.user_ids)
     ? new Set(mentions.user_ids)
     : new Set<string>();
+  const textMentioned = getMatrixRuntime().channel.mentions.matchesMentionPatterns(
+    params.text ?? "",
+    params.mentionRegexes,
+  );
+  const visibleRoomMention =
+    hasVisibleRoomMention(params.text) || hasVisibleRoomMention(params.content.formatted_body);
 
   // Check formatted_body for matrix.to mention links (legacy/alternative mention format)
   const mentionedInFormattedBody = params.userId
-    ? checkFormattedBodyMention(params.content.formatted_body, params.userId)
+    ? checkFormattedBodyMention({
+        formattedBody: params.content.formatted_body,
+        userId: params.userId,
+        mentionRegexes: params.mentionRegexes,
+      })
     : false;
+  const metadataBackedUserMention = Boolean(
+    params.userId &&
+    mentionedUsers.has(params.userId) &&
+    (mentionedInFormattedBody || textMentioned),
+  );
+  const metadataBackedRoomMention = Boolean(mentions?.room) && visibleRoomMention;
+  const explicitMention =
+    mentionedInFormattedBody || metadataBackedUserMention || metadataBackedRoomMention;
 
-  const wasMentioned =
-    Boolean(mentions?.room) ||
-    (params.userId ? mentionedUsers.has(params.userId) : false) ||
-    mentionedInFormattedBody ||
-    getMatrixRuntime().channel.mentions.matchesMentionPatterns(
-      params.text ?? "",
-      params.mentionRegexes,
-    );
-  return { wasMentioned, hasExplicitMention: Boolean(mentions) };
+  const wasMentioned = explicitMention || textMentioned || visibleRoomMention;
+  return { wasMentioned, hasExplicitMention: explicitMention };
 }