Instagram is the leading social media platform, boasting over a billion active users and offering fantastic features for both enjoyment and business.
How to Stay Safe from Instagram Scams
Like every social media platform that gains immense popularity, Instagram has become a hotspot for scammers and fraudsters. Therefore, if you want to protect yourself on the platform, this guide is essential reading.
Table of Contents
What Are Instagram Scams?
Instagram scams are various schemes designed to extract money from individuals or to hack their Instagram accounts.
As Instagram serves both entertainment and business purposes, scams frequently occur, each with distinct objectives.
Numerous Instagram scams emerge regularly, and since individuals often fall victim to these traps, it is crucial to stay informed and protect yourself at all costs.
Some will attempt to take your money, some will deceive you into engaging in criminal activities, while others will seek to take control of your profile due to your followers and engagement rate.
Instagram scams come in many forms, and they can affect anyone. Therefore, always exercise caution when interacting with someone you don’t know on this platform.
How do Instagram scams work?
The operation of Instagram scams varies based on the type and objective of the scam. Typically, scammers send direct messages containing enticing offers, whether related to providing you with money or assisting you in rapidly growing your online accounts.
On Instagram, you may encounter scams related to identity theft, romance, money, job opportunities, and even Bitcoin. Therefore, whenever you receive a message concerning any of these topics, you can be certain it is a scam.
6 Common Instagram Scams
Here are some of the most common Instagram scams to be aware of for a safe and enjoyable experience on the platform.
1. Phishing Scams
Phishing scams on Instagram are likely the most common type of scams that have existed since the platform’s inception.
This type of scam involves receiving a direct message asking you to confirm your identity, username, and password to ensure that your Instagram account doesn’t get deleted.
The individual sending you the email or message will identify themselves as a representative from Instagram customer service and will typically include a statement in their bio that reads “Official customer service profile.”
They will also mention suspicious activity and ask you to provide information to log in, claiming they need it to secure your account. This will enable them to breach your account and scam others using your information.
Once you grant them access to your Instagram account, they can commit identity theft, obtain all of your data and passwords for connected social media accounts, and even access your credit card information if it is linked to your account.
Some scammers engage in Instagram phishing to blackmail you by threatening to send your messages and photos to your friends and family or to publish private information from your account if you do not give them money.
Whenever you receive a message or an email like this, please report it and do not consider responding or sending your information to anyone.
If there is an issue with your Instagram account, you will receive a notification as soon as you open the app, directing you to a secure website that does not require you to send information via DMs or email.
2. Sponsorship Scams
Sponsorship scams on Instagram have existed since the platform’s inception. These scams typically involve direct messages in which a brand promises to pay you for an advertising deal and invites you to become their ambassador.
These scams frequently appear on the Instagram app, and the brands claiming to offer these services are mostly fake accounts with only a few pictures and around 1,000 followers. They typically do not require anything else from you except to purchase their products to become eligible for the “advertising deal.”
However, if you fall for it and choose to purchase their products, you may not receive them, and you could risk having significantly more money taken from your account than what is stated on the website.
Promotions like this are something all Instagram users encounter from time to time, so it’s best to ignore them. It is quite clear that they are fake, and their profiles typically vanish after scamming enough people.
Some brands may even promise to take you on sponsored trips or organize a photoshoot for you. However, be cautious, as offers like these have often been associated with human trafficking.
While you may not lose anything other than some time and money, it is best to ignore these messages and refrain from agreeing to their sponsored trips unless you are certain you are communicating with a well-known and reputable brand through their official account.
3. Crypto Scams
Crypto and Bitcoin scams have gained significant popularity over the past two years, as many individuals are seeking ways to invest, even through unreliable sources on Instagram.
Crypto investors who claim they can make you rich in just a week by offering various investment programs are common scams on Instagram. Once you begin engaging with related content, you will receive these offers constantly.
They typically promise to help you double your money within a few days by investing $100, $500, or even $1,000 through them.
No serious crypto and Bitcoin traders seek investors in this manner, and they certainly won’t ask you to pay them to invest on your behalf. Therefore, block accounts that send messages like this.
4. Investing Scams
Investment scams resemble crypto scams and typically involve messages from unknown individuals who promise to help you attain a luxurious lifestyle by investing in their business or joining their company.
These companies or projects are typically fabricated and require investment through specific mobile apps and accounts that these so-called investors provide, which clearly indicates that it is a scam account.
No one secures investors through Instagram DMs, so regardless of the type of offer you receive on your Instagram accounts, block these creators and refrain from clicking on any links they send you.
5. Blackmail Scams
Blackmail scams occur frequently, particularly targeting women on Instagram. These scammers often threaten to release your private messages and photos if you do not send them a specific amount of money.
They will assert that your Instagram account has been hacked and threaten to post all your private information if you do not send them money within a few hours.
In 99% of cases, your account likely wasn’t hacked; they are simply bluffing to extract money from you.
These scammers primarily target women because they are more likely to respond and send money almost immediately.
However, if you receive this message but continue to use Instagram without the app notifying you about hackers or individuals from other locations attempting to access your account, you are safe and can disregard the message.
6. Romance Scams
Romance scams are likely the oldest type of scam on Instagram, and unfortunately, many people continue to fall for them or attempt them, even when they recognize the signs of suspicion.
Many individuals are creating fake Instagram accounts by using photos and videos from others, attempting to present themselves as someone they are not.
This wouldn’t be as frightening if they weren’t genuinely connecting with different people online, engaging in conversation, and ultimately forming a romantic bond over the phone.
While some romance scams may conclude at this point, leaving the other person feeling deeply disappointed and hurt upon discovering they were communicating with someone who doesn’t exist, some scammers manage to extract money and gifts from their victims.
Many scammers have disseminated a significant amount of false personal information, enabling them to gain their victims’ trust and persuade them to lend money multiple times, purchase gifts, and even buy plane tickets and similar items.
For this reason, even if the person appears beautiful and intriguing, refrain from revealing too much about yourself and avoid sending them money or goods until you are certain you are communicating with a real person.
These scams cause financial harm and emotional distress, so never trust individuals you only know from the internet without caution.
8 Tips to Avoid Getting Scammed on Instagram
To safeguard your online accounts on Instagram from identity theft, phishing scams, investment scams, and other types of scams, you must exercise caution.
To enhance your experience on Instagram and the internet as a whole, here are some tips to help you avoid scams.
1. Set Your Account to Private
Maintaining your Instagram account as private will shield you from unwanted followers and messages. Additionally, those who do not follow you will remain unaware of who is behind the account and what you are sharing.
While you may still receive suspicious DMs with a private account, romance scammers, investment scammers, and individuals seeking to steal money from you will rarely target you. Even if they do, these messages will typically go to the Request box rather than directly into your DM.
2. Create a strong password
A strong password is essential for every social media and subscription service, as it prevents easy guessing and ensures that even third-party apps cannot access the account without the correct login information.
By combining upper and lower case letters, along with numbers and symbols, you can create a strong password that is difficult for anyone to decipher.
3. Set up two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication means that to log into your Instagram account, you will need to sign in with your password and verify your identity using your mobile phone or another device where your email is active.
When creating your account, you can enable two-factor authentication, which will protect you from suspicious activity or logins, particularly from hackers.
4. Avoid clicking on suspicious links
An Instagram scammer will likely send you a suspicious link in a direct message, claiming that by clicking on it, you can earn money or become eligible for an advertisement or project.
Never click on suspicious links sent by individuals you don’t know. Even if you recognize the sender, always verify the URL and the domain before opening it in your account.
5. Shop exclusively from verified accounts
Instagram displays a verification mark next to the username of every user or brand that has verified their identity, and these are the only accounts from which you should make purchases.
Many unverified Instagram shops have fake followers that appear trustworthy but will scam you for money as soon as you attempt to make a purchase through their Instagram shop. Therefore, avoid buying from profiles that lack the blue verification mark next to their name.
6. Avoid excessive use of third-party apps
If you use a third-party app for Instagram followers to gain more likes and followers or to stalk random people on Instagram, you might unknowingly become involved in online scams.
These apps are frequently linked to various platforms, making it easy to fall victim to scams that can result in the loss of your account and money. Therefore, it is advisable to either avoid these platforms entirely or register only on those that are 100% safe and verified.
7. Monitor Your Login Activity
Instagram settings will give you a comprehensive list of your login activity, allowing you to view every device and location from which you have logged in.
If you suspect that something suspicious is occurring or that your Instagram account has been hacked, monitor this section of the settings to identify who has caused the issue and when.
8. Avoid responding to all DMs
Most Instagram scammers contact their potential victims via DMs, and if you have been using Instagram for a while, you have likely received several fake job scams, romance scams, and investment scams in your DMs.
When you receive them, ignore them; do not respond to them, and do not open any suspicious links contained in them. Simply block the person and report a potential Instagram scam.
What To Do If You Get Scammed?
If you were unaware of Instagram scammers and became a victim of their schemes, I am sorry.
However, there are steps you can take to address the situation, improve your mood, or even save your money if it’s not too late.
Contact Instagram Support to Report a Scam
When you suspect that you may have been scammed, contact Instagram support, explain the situation, and report the individual, as they may have attempted to deceive others in this Instagram scam.
Change Your Instagram Password
If you have shared your login details and they are identical for all your online accounts, change them immediately on Instagram and all other social media platforms.
Your personal information can be preserved if you respond quickly, and the scammer will be logged out of the Instagram app when you update your login details.
Check Your Bank Account
Open your banking app to review your information, check your PIN, and see if any transactions have been made.
If it is not too late, you can reach out to them and quickly update all the information to prevent the scammers from accessing your money.
Will a bank refund you if you are scammed?
If you were scammed into transferring money to someone else, there is a strong possibility that your bank will reimburse you for the amount.
The process is straightforward, and they will reverse the transaction. However, ensure you contact them as soon as you realize that this transaction was part of the scam.
Use antivirus software
Always install antivirus software on your device, as it is essential for protecting you from malicious links and scammers attempting to access your social media profiles and bank accounts.
The software will prevent this action when someone attempts it, and you will receive an alert regarding a potential issue.
Utilize the ID theft checker app
ID theft checker apps assist you in safeguarding personal information across various platforms and websites. They will notify you if there is a breach in any of your profiles, whether on Instagram or in an app containing your banking details.
They also provide a guide to help you minimize the consequences if you have already been scammed.
Conclusion
Instagram scams occur frequently, making it essential to learn how to identify them and protect yourself for a safe and enjoyable experience on social media.
No matter what you do, always stay vigilant and be aware of the most common Instagram scams.
Follow my advice to help you avoid these situations and prevent damage, even if you fall victim to a scam.
FAQ
What can a scammer do with my phone number?
A scammer can do a lot of damage with your phone number, from preying on your contacts, friends, and family, sending scam messages to other people, doing SIM swaps, and stealing all the information connected to that phone number.
Can you get scammed by opening a text message?
You can hardly get scammed by opening a text message from scammers, but if you click on the links, pics, and videos included, your profile will probably get hacked, and you will become a victim of online scams.
What can a scammer do with my picture?
A scammer who gathers all your pictures can be very dangerous because they will probably try to present themselves as you on different platforms, threaten other people or make them victims of the scam too by hiding behind your face and name.
Can a scammer access my bank account?
A scammer can access your bank account if they gain the information through phishing and you open different links they have sent you.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eAlso, if you have shared even the smallest detail about your credit card or bank account with them, they will quickly get into it.
