How to spot a scammer on instagram
12 Instagram scams to know and avoid in 2023
Written by Clare Stouffer, a NortonLifeLock employee
August 26, 2022
For many, Instagram is the go-to app for entertainment and connecting with others. Whether you use it to keep up with your college friends or to kill time watching cat videos, the app has it all.
Unfortunately, Instagram has more than just eye-catching pictures and entertaining videos. In fact, cybercriminals are instead using the app to trick people online, using different types of scams.
So, you may be wondering, “What kind of scams are on Instagram?” To help answer this question, we’ve compiled a list of the 12 most common Instagram scams to know, including:
- Influencer scams
- Phishing scams
- Fake job scams
- Music promotion scams
- Sponsorship scams
- Lottery and giveaway scams
- Crypto scams
- Romance scams
- Investment scams
- Fake product scams
- Paid subscription scams
- Blackmail scams
To learn more about each of these Instagram scams and how to spot, report, and avoid them, continue reading this comprehensive guide.
12 types of Instagram scams
Since Instagram was founded in 2010, mobile scammers have come up with numerous ways to trick its users. From seemingly lucrative investment opportunities to fake job offers, there are many ways a scammer may appear in your direct messaging inbox. Here are a dozen known Instagram scams to avoid today.
1. Influencer scams
On Instagram, not all influencers are created equal. While there are plenty of legitimate influencers on the app, some of them are fake accounts designed to deceive you.
Characteristics of Instagram influencer scams include:
- Accounts with a high number of fake followers and likes
- Profiles with racy profile pictures
- Promotion of investment opportunities or financial services
In some cases, it’s possible that the account was once real and has been hijacked by scammers on Instagram to fool others.
2. Phishing scams
In a phishing scam, you may receive a pressing direct message (DM) or email prompting you to take action before your Instagram account is “suspended.
” In the message, a scammer will pose as an official Instagram customer service account and try to convince you that your account is in danger.
Common traits of a phishing scam include:
- Warnings that your account is in danger
- Requests to give up personal information including your username and password
- Alerts that you need to verify “suspicious activity”
By engaging with an Instagram phishing message, it may allow them to take over your account, steal your data, or blackmail you for money. To avoid this, it’s important to never give up any information to an account you’re unsure about. And remember, Instagram will never DM you about your account, and you can view official Instagram emails in your Settings.
3. Fake job scams
With many people losing their jobs during the pandemic, scammers looked to take advantage of the situation by promoting fake job postings on Instagram.
Fake job scams often feature:
- Messages from fake recruiters
- Links to phony job applications
- Requests for your personal information
Once you’ve given the so-called recruiter your information, they may use it to steal your identity, drain your financial accounts, or take over your Instagram profile.
4. Music promotion scams
If you share music on Instagram, you may be subject to music promotion scams. Compared to other scams, music promotion scams are much more specific and may only apply to musicians.
Characteristics of a music promotion scam include:
- DMs from fake music promotion accounts
- Requests for money in exchange for a promotional post
- Claims that they can help increase your music streams
In some cases, these accounts will have a high number of followers, views, and likes. While it may seem like thousands of people are hearing your music, they are usually bot accounts, and the Instagram views will not translate into new listeners on streaming platforms.
5. Sponsorship scams
Sometimes referred to as Instagram ambassador scams, fake sponsorship scams also use fake or hacked accounts. Although, instead of posing as an influencer, these accounts pretend to be legitimate brands.
Traits of a sponsorship scam include:
- DMs from fake brand accounts
- Offers to pay you for advertisements
- Requests for your personal information
- Opportunities to sign up as an ambassador
In some schemes, you may even be promised a free or discounted trip, often for an in-person meeting or photoshoot. In reality, these situations are fake and used to steal your personal and financial information.
6. Lottery and giveaway scams
Another common scheme on Instagram are fake lottery and giveaway scams. These scams are designed specifically to steal your information and convince you that you've won a prize or contest.
Lottery and giveaway scams often include:
- DMs congratulating you on your prize
- Requests for your personal information to claim your winnings
- Links redirecting you to unsafe websites
In some Instagram giveaway scams, scammers will hijack a real account or impersonate someone that is running a legitimate giveaway.
Because of this, it's important to always be cautious and never share any personal information with someone you're unsure of.
7. Crypto scams
These days, it's almost impossible to browse the web without hearing about cryptocurrency. Unfortunately, scammers have taken advantage of crypto’s increasing popularity to scam Instagram users.
Traits of an Instagram crypto scam include:
- DMs from accounts claiming they can make you rich
- Requests for payment
- Requests for personal information
In these Instagram DM scams, you’ll likely lose your entire investment and may even have your Instagram account hacked and used to scam your friends.
8. Romance scams
Sometimes described as catfishing, romance scams may leave you and your account exposed to hackers. These scams can be frustrating, often causing emotional and financial pain.
Common traits of Instagram romance scams include:
- DMs from a fake account
- Long-term romantic communication
- Requests for payment, gifts, etc.
When running romance scams on Instagram, scammers may use elaborate lies and social engineering tactics to manipulate you for your money and personal information.
9. Investment scams
Similar to crypto Instagram scams, many scammers target those who may need some extra money with fake investment opportunities. Because of this, it’s best to be cautious of any cash flipping or get-rich-quick schemes.
Characteristics of Instagram investment scams include:
- DMs from people appearing to live a lavish lifestyle
- Promises of wealth and financial success
- Requests for an initial investment, often using mobile payment apps
Once the Instagram scammer has your initial investment, you’ll likely never hear from them again, and they’ll continue trying to do this to others.
10. Fake product scams
Unfortunately, fake product and online shopping scams are common on Instagram.
These scam Instagram accounts often have many followers, making them seem more legitimate.
Fake product scams often include:
- Posts and advertisements promoting fake products
- Links to sketchy websites
- Requests for personal information to complete the purchase
Once you’ve given the scammers your personal information, you may lose access to your Instagram account, receive a knock-off version of the item you ordered, or even worse, have your identity stolen.
11. Paid subscription scams
Another scam to watch out for is paid subscription scams. In these scams, you may be offered access to genuine subscription services at a discounted price.
Paid subscription scams often include:
- Accounts promoting lifetime or discounted access to subscription services
- Links to fraudulent copycat websites
- Requests for payment and personal information
In most cases, these scams promote popular subscription services like Netflix, Spotify, and Xbox Live.
To be safe, never sign up for a subscription service anywhere other than the service’s official website.
12. Blackmail scams
In some Instagram hacking scams, scammers may try to blackmail you as a form of harassment or for financial gain.
Traits of Instagram blackmailing scams often include:
- Threats to release private information
- Requests for payment
- Claims that a hacker might have access to your files
When it comes to blackmailing scams, the hacker might not even have any of the information they claim they do, and instead are trying to scare you into meeting their demands.
How to spot a scammer on Instagram: 13 warning signs
Even though there are different types of social media scams, there are common red flags that many of them share. Keep an eye out for these Instagram scam warning signs:
- They ask you for money
- They tell you you’ve won a contest or prize
- They claim they can make you money quickly
- They ask you to apply for a job
- They move the conversation outside of Instagram
- They send you a link to an unsafe website
- They claim they need your help in an emergency situation
- They offer you an investment opportunity
- They offer you a discount on popular items or services
- They try to sell you gift cards
- They send messages with spelling and grammar mistakes
- They claim to represent a company but are not a verified account
- They ask for your personal information
If you come across any combination of these warning signs, don’t worry, because there are steps you can take to stop the scammer in their tracks.
Continue reading to learn what to do if you run into a scam on Instagram.
What to do if you get scammed on Instagram
Now that you know exactly what to look for when identifying scams, you may be wondering what to do if someone scams you on Instagram. To keep you and your Instagram account safe, follow these steps:
- Don’t respond or click any links: Whenever you receive Instagram scam messages, it's best to avoid responding or clicking any links.
- Block the account: To block someone on Instagram, click on their profile, tap the three-dot icon at the top right of your screen, and select “Block.”
- Report the account: To report the account, follow the same steps as above, but select “Report.” Once you’ve selected “Report,” follow the on-screen instructions to help inform Instagram of the specifics of the scam.
By following these steps, not only will you protect yourself, but you can also help Instagram stop these accounts from scamming anybody else.
How to avoid Instagram scams: 9 cybersecurity tips
Now that you’re equipped with the knowledge of how to report a scammer on Instagram, you might want to know how you can avoid them altogether. To reduce your chances of getting scammed, follow these nine cybersecurity tips:
- Use common sense: If someone pitches you a deal that seems too good to be true, it most likely is. Always be cautious and use common sense when interacting with others on Instagram.
- Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): Using 2FA can help prevent anybody else from getting into your
Instagram account, even if they get access to your password. - Look for the verification check mark: If an account reaches out to you claiming to be an influencer or brand account, look for the blue verification check mark by their name. If they don’t have that, they are likely a scam account.
- Avoid linking your Instagram to third-party apps: In some cases, third-party apps may ask for access to
your Instagram account.
Before saying yes, be sure to do your own research and see if the app is legitimate, as some apps could be harvesting and selling your data. - Make your account private: Keeping your Instagram account private will only allow users you approve to view your account. You can do this by tapping “Settings,” selecting “Privacy,” and then turning on the Private Account feature.
- Use strong passwords: To keep your Instagram account as safe as possible, it’s important to create a strong password. This can help prevent Instagram frauds from taking over your account using password spraying or other tactics.
- Never click on suspicious links: In many cases, Instagram scammers may try to lead you to a malicious website. To avoid this, never click on any links you’re unsure of.
- Only shop from verified accounts: Since Instagram added its shopping feature, many businesses have begun advertising and selling products online. Unfortunately, scammers are pretending to do the same.
To be safe, only buy from accounts that are verified with a blue check mark. - Use an antivirus app: For an extra layer of protection, you can install an antivirus app on your mobile device. This can help protect your phone from mobile threats, including viruses, malware, and spyware.
By following these tips, you can scroll through Instagram without having to worry about dealing with any scams. To protect yourself further, be sure to keep your personal information safe and use caution when sharing on social media.
Cyber threats have evolved, and so have we.
Norton 360™ with LifeLock™, all-in-one, comprehensive protection against viruses, malware, identity theft, online tracking and much, much more.
Try Norton 360 with Lifelock.
Learn More
Learn More
Learn More
Learn More
Editorial note: Our articles provide educational information for you. NortonLifeLock offerings may not cover or protect against every type of crime, fraud, or threat we write about.
Our goal is to increase awareness about cyber safety. Please review complete Terms during enrollment or setup. Remember that no one can prevent all identity theft or cybercrime, and that LifeLock does not monitor all transactions at all businesses.
Copyright © 2022 NortonLifeLock Inc. All rights reserved. NortonLifeLock, the NortonLifeLock Logo, the Checkmark Logo, Norton, LifeLock, and the LockMan Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of NortonLifeLock Inc. or its affiliates in the United States and other countries. Firefox is a trademark of Mozilla Foundation. Android, Google Chrome, Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google, LLC. Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Alexa and all related logos are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Microsoft and the Window logo are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.
S. and other countries. The Android robot is reproduced or modified from work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Instagram Scams - How to Stay Safe
Instagram scams have become overwhelmingly popular with cybercriminals. Social media has made it easy for strangers to earn your trust by impersonating people or brands. Sometimes, these fraudsters spend weeks talking with you before pulling their scam. As this risk rises, you’ll need to know the signs of a scam to avoid being robbed of your money and/or identity.
As our digital lives continue to grow, online scams have evolved to become more deceptive. Instagram phishing is just one of many believable schemes that can easily claim you as a victim. So, learning how to identify an Instagram scam is essential for all users on the platform.
What are Instagram Scams?
Instagram scammers use various methods to coerce you into being a victim of theft or an attack. Usually, these cybercriminals are seeking something valuable, like money or confidential information. Some may even try to use you as a vehicle to spread malicious code to loved ones or co-workers.
In any case, you’ll find yourself making a decision that could affect yourself and those around you. The trouble is that the scammers don’t always make it easy to remain rational. Effective scams tend to tap into your emotions and pretend to be trustworthy. The best scammers pay close attention to detail and make it hard to dispute their authenticity.
Your best defense is to be aware of the more popular schemes on Instagram.
Instagram Phishing Risks
Instagram phishing is the most common way scammers hijack your identity and personal accounts. Phishing involves a message that urges or persuades you to take action, usually requesting money or account login details.
Fraudulent messages are disguised as a trusted person or brand you might know, and the illusion of authenticity can be just enough to trick you into giving the hacker what they want.
Instagram itself has identified the following scams:
- Romance - fraudsters ask you for money after gaining your trust, usually through means of flirting or seduction.
- Lottery - scammers claim you’ve won something and request a fee to give you the reward.
- Job - fraud offers to help you earn money if you provide banking info for direct payment.
- Loan - schemes claim to let you borrow money instantly for an advance fee.
- False Investment - scams lead you to make a small investment with claims of growing your money. Cash flipping scams are especially relevant on the platform.
- Paid Subscription fraud - deceives you into paying for discounted access to services like music or movie streaming.
Other specific scams might be a threat to you as well:
- Fake Influencer sponsors - try to fool growing Instagrammers out of their banking details by pretending to be a real brand offering an advertising deal.
- Instagram phishing email - scams might urge you to use a fake login link to appeal against a terms of service strike on your account. Other emails claim suspicious activity that they’ll ask you to log in and verify.
- Giveaways - ask that you give personal info, make a payment, or log into a site in exchange for a prize.
As you can see, phishing relies on gaining your trust or playing on emotions to deceive you. If you’re not careful, you could easily be scared or coerced into becoming a victim.
It’s worth remembering that scammers don’t always rush their plots, and it might take anywhere from days to months before the scam launched.
Eventually, any Instagram fraud scheme has some sort of "ask." This is the biggest red flag to look out for. If a brand or person has asked you to do something that might put you at risk, you might become a scam victim.
Scammed on Instagram? What to Do Next
If you’ve fallen for an Instagram scam or believe you might be a victim — you should take steps to minimize the damage.
This is because the personal information you’ve handed over could be used to:
- Steal your identity
- Drain your bank accounts
- Breach any of your online accounts
- Ruin your credit
- Spread malware to people you know
With this knowledge, you can act quickly to lock the hacker out of your life long-term. You should also be able to undo some or all of the immediate problems they’ve caused you.
Here are some tips to take action:
Check your bank accounts and credit cards. Browse all your bank activity and statements for anything you don’t remember doing. A scammer that’s got your financial info might make transfers or purchases from your accounts. Don’t just look for big purchases — cybercrimes might keep their spending limited to small splurges. Sometimes, purchases as low as a few dollars have been discovered. If you’ve spotted anything odd, report it to your bank or credit institution to halt any future use.
Change your passwords. You'll want to change your Instagram password to be safe. But you might have compromised several other accounts if you used a fake login form. If you’ve ever reused passwords and usernames, a scammer can break into more of your accounts. So, be sure to change passwords across all your essential accounts, like banking, social media, email, and anywhere you pay bills or shop online.
Use unique passwords for every online account. In addition to changing your passwords, be sure to make each one challenging and different. If it's easy for you to remember, it might be easy for a hacker to guess. Passphrases filled with a variety of character types will help you stay secure. Random character strings are the absolute best option. To remember all of these new passwords, we suggest you use a secure online vault like Kaspersky Password Manager.
Check your credit and freeze it. Scammers have been known to create new bank accounts and incur all sorts of debt in your name. In case your identity has been stolen, it’s wise to check your credit scores and reports across all three of the major institutions. In the US, Experion, Equifax, and TransUnion each gather info differently, so you’ll want to check all of them (if you’re not a citizen of the United States, you should check your own country’s institutions). Freezing your credit is another vital step towards limiting the issues caused by known identity theft.
Use an ID theft checker service. Services like these will monitor any suspicious activity across your credit, tax returns, investments, etc. To keep an eye out for any other data breaches, Kaspersky Security Cloud offers constant monitoring and tips to protect yourself.
How to Protect Yourself Against Instagram Scams
Instagram phishing seems to be sticking around, so you'll need to be prepared to deal with it. Here are some reliable ways to spot and avoid being a victim of Instagram fraud.
Best Ways to Avoid Fraud on Instagram
If a message asks you to “give” something, watch out. Fraud usually mentions bank accounts, selling something, or asking for other personal info. This might include logging into an account or being asked to make a payment for something. If you’ve received any direct messages or emails you find suspicious, proceed with caution.
Enabling two-factor authentication allows you a secondary checkpoint for account logins after your password has been used. This checkpoint requires the person logging in to verify by using another account or device that you own. Types of 2FA offered might include text message, email, in-app prompts, biometrics, or even a physical USB key.
Never use a login link through a message. Always use an official URL and login directly to your accounts. This is especially true for Instagram phishing email fraud. Scammers are hoping that you'll react to the urgency in their messages and click to login without thinking rationally. Always pause and seek out the real URL. If there is a real problem, an authentic login will make it clear. You can also follow up with an official support email, chat, or customer phone number to confirm.
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Giveaways, jobs, and other scams get you excited to cloud your judgment. It’s safer to assume that these are rarely ever authentic. If you are unsure, you can contact brands through official channels directly. Search the web for their real website and contact them to ask about the details.
Always search for official accounts before responding to messages.
You may be able to spot authentic brands and people by searching for verified accounts (ones with the blue check next to username). Big brands will have links to all official social media from their official website. No Instagram link on their website might mean the brand doesn’t have an official Instagram account.
If a stranger follows you, be suspicious. Many scams involve strangers gaining your trust by building a relationship with you. It is wise to block unknown followers or those who don’t share any mutual followers with you. It might even be better if you set your account to private and only allow people you know to follow you.
If someone you know sends a strange message, contact them directly. Reach the person offline with a phone call or talk to them in-person. Ask them if they sent the message. A scammer may be impersonating them and targeting you along with other people they know.
They may need to report the account and warn the people around them.
Use an anti-virus program across all your devices. You’ll want to protect yourself from any malware that might have embedded itself into your device (if you’ve clicked a suspicious link). Software like Kaspersky Internet Security offers protection against such malware, as well as, viruses, ransomware, and even helps to block phishing.
Related articles:
- Phishing Prevention Tips
- How to Generate Strong Passwords for Your Social Media Accounts
- Internet Safety on Twitter
- Facebook Security
How to distinguish a scammer on Instagram when making purchases?
“How to spot a scammer on Instagram?”, “How not to get hooked?”, “How not to lose money?” Such questions are asked by everyone who wants to make a purchase in this social network.
Online trading is full of such unpleasant surprises, in the form of specially created store accounts, to deceive a gullible buyer. How to distinguish a scammer account on Instagram and not be deceived, read in this article.
In order for a visitor to a fake store account to peck at his fake product, it is created very similar to a real online store, and sometimes even better. Often, a scammer simply copies someone else's site or its concept in order not to waste a lot of time. But there are especially “creative” crooks who are not too lazy to find and edit product photos on the Internet, uploading them to the Insta feed. The social network can block clones, and they know it. So the tape is filled, turning into a very real online store, only without a real product and a seller. nine0005
Below we will consider the signs that can give out an Instagram scammer. We read and shake on the mustache:
Product price.
The most powerful trick of scammers is the price, or rather, the price is lower than everyone else. This is the first sign that may indicate deception. As you know, each product has an entry and sale price, as well as costs for advertising, mail, transportation, etc. Logic should tell you what is real and what is not. Beware of abnormally low prices! Greedy pays twice! nine0005
Communication style and sales process. Very often, the scammer achieves only one thing - persistently take the maximum possible advance payment for the goods. This is an important sign of dishonesty of the false seller. 90% of Instagram accounts work with prepaid, but their prepayment does not exceed the amount of risks covering the transfer and has a symbolic amount. The opposite is true for scammers. They ask for 50%, 100%, 30% down payment, which gives them away. Be careful!
Phishing. nine0014 Fraudsters can disguise, under the guise of a payment link or promo code, malicious links to obtain your personal or payment information. Content age. Despite all the outward accuracy, it gives out such an account - the age of the posts. They are too young for a reliable store. A fraudster has no time to develop an account, he wants to benefit from quickly and quickly deleting an account (or closing it from activity). Therefore, posts are uploaded within 1-2 weeks or earlier. So they create a false store feed. How to see the age of a post? Very simple - scroll down the feed and see the date of publication. In a normal Instagram store, even a young one, posts are always more than 3 months old. Well-known stores have more than 2-5 years. nine0005 Do not be lazy to analyze old posts for the number of likes and comments and for their content. Strongly young (under three months old) accounts should alert you, but this is not at all an unequivocal indicator of a scammer. There are a few more signs of how to distinguish a villain's account. Read on. Content content. The Instagramm social network is not only one continuous photo, although the network was conceived precisely as a photo network. This is also the text that describes the photo. In our case, it's a product. Learn how to trade on Instagram here. Let's start with a photo. nine0005 A scammer will never shoot a product on his own, which means that he needs someone else's photo content from the Internet. It's not uncommon to find scammer accounts that are filled with photos like "Aliexpress" - semi-real, closer to computer graphics. Even a child will distinguish a real photo from this one. In the photo "Ali" all the goods are very perfect and very bright and contrasting. Really photographed goods will always be with photo flaws, which inspire confidence. Such photos, as a rule, are made in the same style, which is readable and recognizable throughout the feed. They are as detailed as possible and have several angles that allow you to objectively evaluate the product. Beware of accounts with artificial "not real" photos. nine0005 Product description text. If you can get a block from a social network for a photo, then it is unlikely for someone else's text. The text on the product in 99% of cases is copied from someone else's account. Therefore, do not focus on the text. You just need to pay attention to flashy phrases like: “Only one day!”, “Only today!”, “10 pieces left!”, “Super promotion!” . Number of posts in the account. As we have already said, crooks have little time, which means that even if you see a store with 100-500 posts, do not forget their age, or rather, for what period of time they were posted. If there are 100 copyrighted, real photos in the same style in the account for three months, laid out in a uniform sequence, the probability of a fake is small. But if in three months there are 100 posts in the feed and 90% of them are published in one or two days, then this should indicate a trick and should alert you. Often there are many more posts in fake stores and they are not always younger than three months. nine0005 Fraudsters can have several accounts and use them periodically closing them from all kinds of letters and feedback from outside. If the scammer’s account does not block the social network, then this “online store” can “resurrect” again in a couple of months and continue to deceive people. Examples of online shopping scams on Instagram: Availability of reviews in current (pinned) stories under the feed header. Any self-respecting Instagram store wants to show off its satisfied customers. Reliable sellers take a screenshot of a positive review from direct and post it in stories, then fixing it in actual “circles” under the page header. But scammers have nothing to brag about. The maximum that they can do is to fix other people's reviews, but this is a matter of your attentiveness! Be sure to read the reviews carefully, paying attention to their dates and screenshot details! Read the review itself carefully too, the text may completely contradict the product or logic! nine0005 Likes and comments. An excessive number of likes and comments should alert you, since real sellers rarely artificially wind up likes and comments. This is dangerous for your favorite account and harms targeted advertising, not to mention getting banned from the social network. Surfing the Internet, including Instagram, is very addictive and relaxing. Shopping in the comfort of Insta-cute is a pleasure. Beautiful photos of people and places lulls vigilance and under such captivity, it is easy to miss the obvious things pointing to a scammer. If you love online shopping, learn how to switch from the process of sliding along the tape to the process of choosing a product and making purchases. Instagram scammers are a common phenomenon. These people know thousands of ways for an active user of social networks to part with a certain amount faster. It is very important to be able to recognize such people, and if you accidentally become their victim, ask for help. Social networks are used by a large number of people who are trying to get rich at the expense of others. These are scam bloggers on Instagram, sellers and employers. All of them use different schemes, gain the trust of subscribers and lure out money. nine0005 Instagram scammers try to get other people's money in different ways. But the most popular and effective is access to cards. To do this, use special links, the transition to which immediately threatens a person with the loss of all his banking data. Link on the page. The owner of the page offers everyone shareware access to some streaming services. Discounts are attractive, so a person clicks on the specified link and his card is hacked. nine0005 Messages in direct. Private messages with different links, sometimes with provocative text. Instagram scammers often hack pages and send such emails to their entire friends list. The only way to recognize scammers on Instagram is not to click on suspicious links. And if necessary, check the sender first. Instagram scammers and scammers often send letters to users asking for friends. Usually a casual acquaintance on the Web often leads to a stormy romance. Moreover, such fans often have very interesting and tragic fates. Beautiful single men, often foreigners, meet women. And vice versa, men are "bred" by seemingly naive provincial women. nine0005 Over time, this intensive correspondence leads to a request to borrow a certain amount of money. Social networks often raise money for the treatment of sick children, for animal shelters, etc. Most of these stories are fake. Instagram scammers often profit from someone else's misfortune. It is still better to do charity work not in social networks, but on the corresponding sites. nine0005 Many scammers use the element of surprise when funds are collected in an emergency and very quickly. A story about an accident or hospitalization appears. Caring people begin to transfer money without thinking about the veracity of the information. Clothes, cosmetics, household chemicals are often sold here. Most of these stores really exist and honestly sell goods. Setting up an Instagram store is easy. For reliability, several dozen fake reviews are added, always with a photo. There is a slew of subscribers. Then everything is standard: the buyer transfers money, but does not receive the goods. He tries to clarify the situation, but he gets banned. Paid lotteries and all sorts of investments with multimillion-dollar profits are a classic that Instagram scammers use very often. Participation in such events means the voluntary transfer of funds to scammers. nine0005 Freelancing, telecommuting, work for mothers on maternity leave - these concepts have long come into use. But most of these vacancies, especially those posted on social networks, are used by scammers on Instagram. You can recognize them by other signs. The ad contains many motivating posts, photos of the same type and reviews. They usually attract women who stay at home with children. Sometimes job seekers do get a job, but they don't get paid. Or they have to look for other workers “for themselves” in order to earn at least something. nine0005 Instagram scam bloggers often swindle various companies and brands that advertise their products with their help. Paid advertising does not appear or appears with a delay after the prepayment, and the promoted page turns out to be a fake. Fortunetellers and magicians who take money for their work through social networks, another type of deception. It is impossible to verify the veracity of their words, and the money has already been paid. The danger of this type of deceiver lies in the fact that their activities often harm the life and health of people. Such fortune-tellers fall on suspicious, impressionable people. Without thinking about their "forecasts", they often bring them to a nervous breakdown and even suicide. Such scammers on Instagram and other social networks are less likely than others to be held accountable. Social media users should be careful not to fall for scammers. It is important to know how to check for scammers on Instagram. nine0005 Experts do not recommend opening the links sent unless absolutely necessary. Even if the message was sent from a friend. Instagram scammers easily hack user pages just to send spam. If you receive a letter from a friend or acquaintance, it is advisable to contact him by phone or through another messenger. You can click on the links only after the person personally confirms the sending of the message. nine0005 Account owners often receive letters from the administration asking them to follow the link and verify their identity in order to avoid blocking the page. Such letters are necessarily checked for authenticity through the "Feedback" on the site. Experienced users know how to recognize scammers on Instagram. Professional scammers often use the same schemes and texts to deceive. Therefore, a large number of identical messages should alert. This applies to any texts - from potential suitors, charitable organizations, employers. nine0005 In addition to the same type of messages, scammers often use standard images. But modern technologies allow such photos to be checked for anti-plagiarism. Tricks and manipulation. To deceive, scammers on Instagram use various psychological tricks. Among them: Provocation. Messages are sent to the victim about his account being hacked, leaking photos or videos, etc. The recipient is worried about his own reputation and immediately goes to the specified sites. Instagram scammers insert phishing links into such posts. nine0005 Pseudo-motivation. This trick is often used by scam bloggers on Instagram, as well as employers. Positive and motivating texts are often found in a remote job offer, quick weight loss or in sales. Scammers ask potential victims, “Do you want it too? Become successful and get big money? Put a plus under the post. And then all communication takes place in direct, so that the impression of providing unique information is created. Psychological pressure. Such manipulation allows you to subjugate the victim and completely capture his attention. These tricks are used by marriage swindlers. They choose lonely, desperate people, more often middle-aged women. Usually, potential victims do not have a high income or connections, but there is a need for the attention of the opposite sex. You need to know what to do if scammers deceived you on Instagram and how to punish them. Otherwise, there will be many more deceived people. nine0005 There are scammers on the Instagram list, but many of them change profiles and ways of cheating. Therefore, users must know how to recognize scammers on Instagram. Tape This profile is constantly being updated. New posts appear, whether it's a store or a personal page. The scammers do not really follow the profile update, so the latest posts can easily be dated last year. Photos This safety rule also applies to photographs. The more personal images of one person, the more likely that the page is not fake. Instagram scammers usually post few photos or use someone else's. Documents and reports Instagram scam bloggers raising funds for charity post only the card number for money transfer. If the page is real, that the fundraiser will be supported by documents and reports. But this does not guarantee that the page is not fake. After all, any photo today is easy to fake. nine0005 Contacts The personal information of the page owner is contained in the profile header. Usually these are links to other social networks, the official website, etc. Instagram scammers do not provide such information. Messages If a message arrives with a request to transfer money for a product or service, experienced users play it safe. Name Fake stores often change their name slightly. Instagram scam bloggers try to make their name consonant with real famous bloggers. Verification Genuine pages of various brands have been checked and marked with a blue checkmark. This is the way to check for scammers on Instagram. It is enough to enter the name of the store in the search for a social network. nine0005 Website Real foundations, charities, companies, online stores have official websites. There are scammers on Instagram selling clothes blacklisted, where they are easy to spot. Wraps Instagram scammers cheat likes and users. You can check for fake data using special services. The number of comments is usually proportional to the number of subscribers. Therefore, only scammers have few or, on the contrary, too many reviews on the page. This is a good way to spot scammers on Instagram. All comments from other buyers are recommended to be read very carefully. All people write differently, and reviews are sent not only in direct. This is clearly seen in the screenshots taken by the owner of the page. Similar reviews are often searched for on specialized sites. Blacklists are even easier to check. The Internet is full of anti-rating communities, where users actively discuss sellers of goods, services, etc. In addition, psychologists have noticed that people leave negative reviews much more often and more willingly. The first rule of information security is the use of different passwords. Each account must have its own passwords. It is advisable to change them from time to time. Banking data and other personal information are indicated only on special secure sites. A photo of a bank card cannot be sent even at the request of the bank. This also applies to the confirmation code sent to perform a particular operation. The rule also applies to scans of personal documents. Then scammers on Instagram and other social networks will not be able to use them. If you were deceived by scammers on Instagram, users often ask where to complain. After all, it is not always easy to recognize a swindler, and the consequences are often disastrous for a deceived person. nine0005 The first thing to do when attacked by scammers is to change passwords. They do this not only for the page on social networks, but also for the email to which it is attached. Otherwise, attackers will use mail to enter the profile. Then the user thinks how to punish the fraudster on Instagram. The main goal of many scammers is access to the victim's bank card. So, what to do if scammers have cheated on Instagram? The user must report the incident to the administration of the social network. To do this, open the menu in the upper right corner and click the "Complain" item. It remains only to choose the appropriate reason from the list provided. For example, if an advertising mailing bothers you, then click on "Spam". How to punish a scammer on Instagram so that no one else becomes a victim worries many people. Experts advise any deception to be made public. Be sure to inform all friends and acquaintances about the hacking of the page and other illegal actions of third parties. This allows you to protect other users and prevent scammers from cashing in even more.
Before opening a similar message that came in direct or messenger, think carefully - are you sure about this seller? If you need to enter a password or card number or log in somewhere, then for sure this is phishing. If in doubt, contact the seller in any alternative way to make sure of his integrity. nine0005
Everything should be organic. There should be no peaks in likes and zero activity posts. Everyone who actually trades on Instagram pays for the promotion of their posts. Visitor traffic, in any case, distributes its activity in the form of likes and comments to all posts that are next to the promoted one. If you do this regularly, then the activity is distributed by itself over the entire tape. nine0005 
If you see similarities with the signs below, beware:
nine0046 
Yes, in real accounts this can be found, but quite rarely. Such a stir plays into the hands of a scammer, and you, all this should be very alert. nine0005
The age of such a store may be more than a year or two. 
Fraudsters are not afraid of all this, because they only need the appearance of a successful store. They deliberately wind up likes and comments to create the appearance of an active account. If you see 10,000 followers, don't think it's a 100% real account. Pay attention to this too! nine0005 How not to become a victim of fraud on Instagram?
Read the intonation in the text. Often, fraudsters do not know the methods of effective communication with customers and the necessary ethics. Don't be lazy to feel it! Summary
This will excite your attention and logic. So you are unlikely to lose your funds and save your nerves and mood. nine0005 Instagram scammers (Instagram): where to complain
Types of fraud
1. Phishing. 
There are several types of phishing:
2. Dating scammers. 
The scammers wait months to launch an attack. As soon as the funds are transferred, the victim's account is banned. It is very difficult to hold them accountable. Therefore, it is important to know what to do if scammers have deceived you on Instagram.
3. Charity donations.
4 Shops. 
But there are scammers on Instagram who sell blacklisted clothes that users often share with each other. Such sellers enjoy the trust of buyers, the fashion for online shopping and the employment of people. nine0005
5 Lotteries and investments.
6 Work on the Internet. 
How to recognize scammers on Instagram and a fake ad - usually "employers" ask new employees for a small amount supposedly for access to materials, a course, etc.
7 Bloggers.
8 Charlatans. 
Some scammers are too lazy to even answer their customers, so they simply ignore them after the transfer of funds. And those that answer are able to pull considerable sums from the victim for years. nine0005
How to recognize scammers on Instagram
1. Suspicious links. 
They are often recognized by their changed names (Instagram replaces Instaagram, etc.).
2. Anti-plagiarism. 
Fraudsters take personal photos of other people and then post them on their pages.
nine0005
They know how to recognize scammers on Instagram. Therefore, to verify the information, they write to the store administrators. nine0005
nine0121 
nine0005
What to do if you become a victim
1. Reset passwords
2. Block the card 
To prevent this, the card must be blocked. At a minimum, they set a withdrawal limit, and the principal amount is transferred to another account or withdrawn. So scammers on Instagram will not be able to use the data received. nine0005
3. Leave a complaint
4. Notify your friends 
