Fake Instagram Sellers
The Most Common Instagram Scams And How To Avoid Them
Instagram is the world’s fastest-growing social media platform, so it comes as no surprise that it has attracted the attention of fraudsters who are keen to cash in on the platform’s popularity.
Since it launched in 2010, the app has amassed more the 1. 15 billion active users who share a staggering 95 million photos every day. This popularity, coupled with the open nature of the platform, makes it the ideal place to scam large numbers of people.
By hiding their true identities behind fake profiles and accounts, cybercriminals can impersonate trusted sources, trick people out of money, sell counterfeit goods, or harvest personal information for financial gain. Scams can spread at an alarming speed as more people like, share, and comment on malicious posts.
To avoid being on the receiving end of one of these scams, we’ve put together a guide that highlights the most common types of Instagram scams and how you can avoid them.
Common Instagram Scams
1. Fake Brand Accounts
Fake brand accounts are rampant on Instagram, and according to research from Ghost Data, nearly 20% of all posts about fashion products feature counterfeit goods, and more than 50, 000 accounts promote and sell these knock-off products every day. These imposter accounts promise exclusive discounts, but the real aim is to buy likes and followers to add credibility to their scams.
2. Free Instagram Followers and Likes
Influencers can make huge amounts of money by promoting the products of different companies on their profile. The more followers they have, the more money they can make. Cybercriminals have been quick to capitalise on this business model by masquerading as companies selling cheap followers and likes to help influencers bump up their numbers. These accounts may appear to be real but they’re often fake automated accounts set up specifically to defraud users.
3. Fake Investment Scams
During June 2020, Action Fraud received 164 reports from individuals falling victim to fraudulent investment schemes on Instagram. These reports amounted to a combined financial loss of £358, 809. Typically, fraudsters will approach victims via the instant messaging feature of the platform after advertising their service. They’ll claim to only require an initial investment of a few hundred pounds which will then be used to trade on the stock market. Once a payment has been made, they’ll disappear with very little chance of the money ever being recouped.
4. Fake Giveaways
Whilst there are many legitimate giveaways and promotions on Instagram, there are also a lot of fraudulent ones promising non-existent prizes. They usually mimic big brand names and request that you like, share or comment on the post to be in with a chance of winning. The real aim is to harvest your personal information or to get you to follow their account to add credibility to their scam.
5. Phishing Scam
There are lots of different types of phishing scams on Instagram. Common scams include phishing emails that ask users to click on a link, verify activity on their account, or submit personal information. If a fraudster gains access to your account, they can steal your personal information or change your password and lock you out. Direct messages are also increasingly being used to push malicious links and scams.
Signs of a Scam
Messages that appear to come from a friend or a company you know asking you to click on a suspicious link. A message from someone you don’t know requesting meone claiming to be from Instagram security asking you to provide account information, or to verify your counts representing large companies or public figures that are not or accounts asking you to claim a prize. A request to move your conversation off Instagram to a less public and less secure ssages or posts with poor spelling and grammatical who misrepresent where they are located.
Top Tips to Avoid Instagram Scams
Don’t click on suspicious links – Instagram will never ask users to click on a link to update their personal details. To check if a request is legitimate, go directly to the ‘Emails from Instagram’ tab and you’ll see a list of all the official emails that Instagram has sent you within the last 14 your account private – Instagram accounts are set to public by default so to ensure that only friends can view your posts, you should make your account private. Only approved followers will be able to find your posts through search, see which posts you’ve liked, or send you direct Two-Factor authentication – Two-factor authentication provides an extra layer of defence in securing your accounts. If you enable this on your account, Instagram will text you a unique code for logging in. Disable activity status – Instagram has a feature that allows people you follow or have direct conversations with to see when you were last active on Instagram. To protect your privacy, go into ‘Settings’ and turn off ‘Activity Status’ Login activity – To check if your account has been hacked, go into ‘Settings’ and click on ‘Login Activity’. This page will provide you with a list of all the locations where you’ve logged in with your account. If there are any locations that you don’t recognise, this could indicate that your account has been compromised. You should immediately log out and change your accounts – If someone is harassing you or posting inappropriate content, you can manually block them. Open the three-dot menu on the account and select ‘Block’. It’s also worth reporting the account to Instagram. If they find that the account, comment, or video has breached its terms of service, the account will be your research – If you’re unsure if an account is legitimate or not, you can go into their profile and select ‘About this Account’. Instagram will show you when the user joined the platform, where they’re located, if they’re running any ads, if they’ve made any username changes, or if they have accounts with shared followers. If something doesn’t seem quite right, you can then block and report the a close eye on third-party apps – It can be easy to lose track of all the third-party apps you have connected to your Instagram account. Whilst the vast majority are safe, you may have unintentionally installed a rogue app that is harvesting your data for malicious purposes. If you go into ‘Settings’, you can view active and expired authorised apps and then remove or grant access to the services you if accounts are verified – If you’re buying products from what appears to be a big brand account, check that the account is verified with a blue tick. Suspicions should be raised if a seller is offering expensive products for low prices or if they have strange payment methods.
BBB Tip of the Week: Instagram sneaker scam – The Spokesman …
Are you a sneaker aficionado? Or just love to get a unique pair of sneakers for that hard-to-buy-for person on your Christmas list? Scammers are preying on so many this holiday season with enticing ads and unbelievably low prices on several social media platforms. Buyers beware!
If you are buying from an Instagram seller, be careful. Over the past several months, Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker has seen an uptick in reports from shoppers who paid hundreds for hard-to-find or custom sneakers but never received what they were promised. How the scam works You are scrolling through your Instagram feed when a post or sponsored ad pops up. It’s a pair of sneakers you would love to add to your collection. Lucky you, the shoes in the photo are for sale.
The account is run by someone who collects and resells sneakers, and it seems legitimate. The seller has great photos and a lot of followers. To buy the sneakers, all you need to do is send a direct message. After some back and forth with the seller, who sends you enough pictures of the shoes to convince you they are real, you are asked to make a payment using CashApp, Venmo or another online form of payment.
You make the payment and wait for your new sneakers to be delivered. Days turn into weeks, and the shoes never arrive. When you contact the seller, they may promise you a refund, which never materializes. One consumer reported that after several attempts to get a refund, “the merchant blocked me on social media where I originally contacted him and he also blocked my number, making me unable to call him or any (of his) associates. ” How to avoid social media sales scams Research the seller. Read the comments and reviews of other consumers on the seller’s social media accounts and website, and on If other buyers make negative comments or report not receiving merchandise they paid for, steer clear. Review the seller’s website carefully to make sure it is secure and legitimate before making a purchase. If it says it is an authorized reseller, verify that claim.
Use a safe payment method. Apps like Venmo, Facebook Pay, CashApp and the like may seem like convenient ways to pay, but this kind of app was designed to allow friends, family members and coworkers to send each other money. BBB advises against using payment apps with strangers; use a credit card instead.
Don’t be pressured to make a quick purchase. Many scammers try to pressure you to buy, even if the deal doesn’t quite feel right. They may claim “this is the last pair of sneakers they have in stock” or “it’s a deal that won’t last long because the sneakers are a collectible pair worth much more than the selling price. ” Never purchase under pressure. Do your research first and then buy. For more information For more ways to protect yourself from scams when shopping online, visit Learn more about peer-to-peer payment platforms, such as Venmo, check out this resource.
If you’ve been the victim of a scam, help others avoid the same by reporting your experience at
Instagram Scams – How to Stay Safe | Kaspersky
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
Protecting Your Data Online with Password Manager
Internet Safety on Twitter
Facebook Security
Frequently Asked Questions about fake instagram sellers
How do you know if an Instagram seller is legit?
Signs of a Scam Accounts representing large companies or public figures that are not verified. People or accounts asking you to claim a prize. A request to move your conversation off Instagram to a less public and less secure setting. Messages or posts with poor spelling and grammatical mistakes.Jan 19, 2021
How can you tell a scammer on Instagram?
Buyers beware! If you are buying from an Instagram seller, be careful. Over the past several months, Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker has seen an uptick in reports from shoppers who paid hundreds for hard-to-find or custom sneakers but never received what they were promised.Dec 22, 2019
Can you trust Instagram shoe sellers?
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. … False Investment – scams lead you to make a small investment with claims of growing your money.
