12 Common Instagram Scams and How To Spot Them

Instagram scams come in a variety of forms, from fake celebrity accounts to products and services that are never delivered. Whether the account is trying to get your personal or financial information or just scam you out of money, it’s important to safeguard yourself from Instagram scammers. 

Identity theft protection services may be able to help right the wrong if you've been the victim of an Instagram scam. We have plenty of tips and information on common Instagram scams and how to avoid them.

12 common Instagram scams

Don’t feel bad if you’ve been the victim of an Instagram scam. There are a lot of fake accounts promising free giveaways and information. There are also people who pretend to work for celebrities or corporations just to get your personal information.

The internet is still the Wild West in some spots, so making sure you double-check and stay skeptical can save you from becoming a victim of a social media scam. Common Instagram scams can be easy to spot once you know the signs. Let’s get into it and learn about what to avoid.

1. Phishing scams

Phishing scams are everywhere and can look completely different. A funny meme telling you your elf name can be a clever attempt at gaining password hints. A direct message announcing you’ve won a contest you entered or that a celebrity you follow has noticed your comments may also be out for your data.

Make sure any communication you receive is from a verified account. You can double-check the validity of accounts by looking at how long they’ve been active, whether there are comments on their posts, and whether the account is public (closed accounts are too suspicious). 

You can also filter your settings to disallow messages from accounts you don’t follow. While the blue checkmark is a nice way to identify verified accounts, it’s not always a failsafe.

2. Fake influencer accounts

Influencers make money online by recommending or featuring a brand's products in social media posts, becoming a brand ambassador for a set period of time, entering into an affiliate agreement with a brand, and using other strategies. While this is a completely legitimate business model, there are others out there who don’t want to do the work.

Fake influencers can try to make partnership deals with small businesses and creators or send you to scam websites for products that don’t exist (but still take your money). Most of their followers are likely bots or purchased followers, making them appear much more popular and legitimate.

You can spot these scam accounts by checking out their quality. If they have tons of followers but very low post engagement, it’s likely they have bots and fake followers.

3. Money flipping scams

Money flipping online is basically the same idea as the pyramid schemes of old. Someone promises to take your money and turn it into more money through a business model. Whether they want you to invest in a new business or promise to send you money by just messaging them, there’s never any additional cash, and you’ll be out what you paid.

Some messages come from individuals, while others come from places that look legit. After you send them money, they suddenly block you or disable their Instagram account, and you never hear from them again. There’s no such thing as easy money, so ignore any comments or requests every single time to keep yourself safe.

4. Sponsorship scams

Building your career as an influencer can be freeing and financially rewarding. Sponsorships and brand deals are a major source of revenue for influencers, but scammers are taking advantage of this stream.

And scams aren't just geared toward influencers, either. If you’ve ever received direct messages from a brand that “saw your IG and thought you’d be a great model/spokesperson” for their product, it’s likely a scam. 

Whether you’re a beginner in the influencer space or an individual who was approached by a brand, make sure you check out the business on Trustpilot, Reddit, or the Better Business Bureau (BBB) for legitimacy.

5. Giveaway scams

Who hasn’t entered at least one giveaway in their lifetime? Giveaway scammers will either use a fake giveaway to get information (or money) or scroll the #Giveaway posts to find people who have entered legitimate contests. 

They’ll then message you to let you know you won and ask for information or to click a link. They may even ask you to pay shipping and handling (or some other made-up reason) to receive the gift.

If you’ve entered a chance to win something, only communicate with the verified account where the original post is located. Also, be wary of accounts that only do giveaways, or of new accounts offering a giveaway.

6. Fake job listings

We find this one to be particularly heinous. The economy and job market can get rough now and then, so stumbling across what you think might be a great employment opportunity just to get scammed is demoralizing.

The Instagram scammer will post a position that’s either too good to be true or asks you to pay a fee to apply. Then, you’ll either get hacked because you shared too much personal information or never see any movement in the interview process because the entire thing was a hoax. 

Additionally, you might be asked to provide your Social Security number (SSN), making it particularly lucrative for identity thieves.

Never give out your SSN, even on a legitimate job application. Also, make sure to double-check any potential employers on sites like LinkedIn, Glassdoor, or Trustpilot for legitimacy.

7. Romance scams

Romance scams aren’t new or exclusive to the internet, but they’re rife on social media. Essentially, the scammer preys on lonely people by offering companionship, then slowly begins extorting money from the victim. They may say they need it for a plane ticket or visa to come visit the victim or that a major medical issue has come up and they need money for treatment.

This is a long con that can take weeks or months to manifest before the scammer asks for money. There’s no harm in trying to meet someone romantically on the internet, but be wary if they start asking for money.

8. Fake products

There are a variety of fake product scams on Instagram. Some may take the form of product advertisements. The ad will redirect you to a suspicious website where you pay and never receive the product.

Another fake product scam might involve a merchant trying to sell you a service, such as a digital download or an online class. Once you’ve purchased it, there will be no download and no way to get your money back. 

Many of these scam sites won’t accept payment services like PayPal or Afterpay and will only let you pay via credit card. If the price is too good to be true and the site looks sketchy, it’s best to just avoid it entirely.

9. Music promotion scams

Social media changed the game for a lot of musicians. If you’re an emerging musician, you don’t have to deal with gatekeeping by industry executives — instead, you can reach out to audiences via your own platform. This might be hard given social media algorithms, so fake music promotion accounts have popped up all over social media.

While these accounts do have many followers, most are bots. They promise to boost your music and may even show you how many views you have. Unfortunately, almost all of the views are automated, and your music doesn’t reach real people who will become fans.

These accounts reach out via comments and DMs and will charge you for a very convincing-looking lie. Instead, look for free tutorials or classes on boosting your online presence and using social media algorithm strategies to organically grow your following.

10. Blackmail

Blackmail is as old as humanity, but it got a modern revamp when internet usage became commonplace. Social media blackmail schemes can take a long time to materialize if they’re legitimate. It could start with a phishing attempt where a hacker gains access to your device. They might collect videos, pictures, or conversations you had, then threaten to post them online if you don’t pay.

It could also be a hoax where the person simply sends a threatening message, hoping you’ll be scared into ponying up a fee. Either way, you should take screenshots of the messages, report the account to Instagram, and then reach out to your local police department to file a complaint.

11. Crypto scams

Many people still aren’t sure how crypto works. It looks like magical internet money that can make you rich or be a huge payout for ransomware criminals. Some crypto coins are legitimate, but others are downright malicious.

The market can fluctuate as people buy and sell these coins. Unlike the Dogecoin boom of 2020, however, there isn't a quick return on most crypto investments. Anyone on Instagram promising a large, quick return is likely trying to scam you. 

If you really want to get into crypto, you have to study it just like the stock market. It can be a worthwhile investment, but not one that will provide a 1,000% return in three hours.

12. Paid subscription hoaxes

If you want to learn Adobe Photoshop or stream YouTube TV, you may be deterred by the monthly subscription fee. Some scammers will say they’ll offer a lifetime subscription to the service for a single fee. You may even be redirected to a legitimate-looking site.

That site may not be legitimate, however, because software exists that enables anyone to copy a website verbatim, which can then be used for scams. Once you fall victim to this hoax, you’re left without a subscription and no way to retrieve your stolen funds.

How do you know if a seller is legit on Instagram?

You can tell a legit seller on Instagram by using a few methods to verify their legitimacy.

1. Check for verification: See if the seller has a blue checkmark by their name. Unlike on X (formerly Twitter), IG accounts still need to be verified with proof rather than just paying for verification.
2. Look for secure payment methods: Look at the website you’re directed to for purchase. Are there options to pay with services like PayPal?
3. Check the account's engagement: If there’s a high follower count but few likes and comments on their posts, it’s likely the followers are all bots.
4. Check the age of the account: If the account is fairly new and has low-quality content, there’s also a likelihood that it’s a spam account.
5. Pay attention to the seller's behavior: If they’re acting strange or want you to make payment off the platform, it’s best to just walk away from the transaction. Many scammers will try to get you to close the deal quickly.
6. Be wary of threats: If the seller threatens that the deal will fall through if you don’t act now, or says they have a ton of other people interested, it’s a tactic to get you to commit. Legitimate sellers won’t mind if you take a bit of time to think it over.
7. Check Instagram scammer lists: Some accounts, like @exposinginstascammers, compile lists of known scammers. Quickly check if the account you're dealing with is listed there before committing.

How to boost your cybersecurity on Instagram

Some scammers are extremely sophisticated in their hoaxes, which means you shouldn’t feel bad if you do get scammed. You can reduce your chances, however, by employing some common-sense tactics, cybersecurity tools, and scam education. By using all of these together, you’ll greatly reduce your likelihood of becoming a victim.

Don’t click suspicious links

Think of links like candy — you probably shouldn't take them from someone you don't know. You should always employ this precaution when dealing with links on the internet. Make sure you check out the Instagram account thoroughly, read the comment sections of the posts, and review the engagement. 

If anything looks off or the person contacting you is overly eager, it’s better to avoid clicking the link.

Enable two-factor authentication

If you enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on all eligible online accounts, social media, or others, you can help protect yourself from credential theft. If someone attempts a phishing attack, sends a fake link, or tries to steal your credentials, 2FA will help protect your account.

Invest in identity theft protection

It’s possible to monitor your credit information, financial accounts, and other personal information on your own, but the time and effort needed to be vigilant is exhausting. Identity theft protection services are an easy, hassle-free way to protect your identity.

Not only can they monitor all three credit bureaus, but they’ll notify you of anything suspicious, ranging from social media account takeovers to home title theft and everything in between.

For the best identity theft protection service, we recommend:

Beware of sharing personal info

It’s surprising how many people freely give away their personal information online. If you want to protect yourself from scams, consider sharing less and being more guarded overall about what you share on the internet.

Also, make sure you don’t volunteer any additional information to anyone who solicits you on Instagram or other social media apps. Instagram’s parent company, Meta, which also owns Facebook and WhatsApp, has been criticized by the Federal Trade Commission and the federal government for not doing enough to protect users from scams. It’s up to you to protect your information.

Avoid shopping on social media platforms

We know it’s easy to see an ad for something on Instagram and just click to buy it. TikTok Shop is equally as popular, with some on the platform claiming that the products can be “life-changing.”

If you really think a product will work for you, try looking for it on its own legitimate, verified website or a reputable online retailer like Amazon. Make sure there are protections in place with payment options like PayPal, AfterPay, Klarna, or Affirm.

What to do if someone scams you on Instagram

There are several steps you should take if you find you’ve been scammed on Instagram. While not all of these will apply to every situation, the more we all report internet scams, the better the chances of resolution for everyone.

• Report a post or profile to Instagram.
• Report a message to Instagram.
• Contact your financial institution and alert them about the fraudulent transaction.
• File a police report if theft or blackmail was involved.
• Use your identity theft protection software to freeze or put a hold on your credit.
• File a report with the Internet Crimes Complaint Center (IC3) division of the FBI.
• File a report with IdentityTheft.gov if your personal information has been compromised.
• Change all your passwords.
• Block any spammy or scammy accounts.
• Install and use an ad and tracker blocker to keep yourself from being spied on and marked for targeted ads.
• Change your social media security settings.

Bottom line

Using cybersecurity tools like ad and tracker blockers and identity theft protection services can help keep you safe online. Educating yourself about scams and cybercriminal activities, such as phishing, can improve your online safety in areas where security software can’t protect you. Just remember, it’s always better to walk away from a deal than it is to end up the victim of someone else’s scam.

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