Stay Safe Online: Shielding From Instagram Scams

Since 2021, Americans have lost $2.7 billion to scams on social media. With monthly active users exceeding 2 billion, Instagram is one of the most obvious social hotbeds for fraudsters and shady individuals. 

If you are active on this popular networking platform, it is time to take note.

The Rising Threat of Instagram Scams

Like every other social media site, Instagram provides lucrative opportunities for criminals to exploit the innocent.

Fake accounts manned by bots, for instance, have plagued the platform despite regular crackdowns, increasingly risking users’ safety. These have enabled bad actors to conceal their true identities and pose as influencers, celebrities, and legitimate businesses.

Account hijacking, phishing, and financial fraud are prevalent, too. Falling victim to one of these could mean compromising your personal data, losing money, or even getting entangled in crimes you never committed.

Some of the common scams to watch out for on Instagram include:

  • Fake Jobs

These are designed to steal identifiable information under the guise of job interviews and applications. Some fake offers could also involve an upfront fee for training and equipment.

  • Romance Scams

This is when fraudsters approach Instagram users via direct messages to woo them into romantic relationships. They eventually end up requesting money, while a few may phish for personal data as well.

  • Marketing Swindles

Fake products and subscriptions are fairly common on social media. To win victims’ trust, scammers frequently impersonate celebrities and reputable organizations in this type of fraud.

They can use attractive deals and limited-time promotions as bait to entice people into an impulsive purchase.

  • Sponsorship Fraud

Sometimes, fraudsters could approach you to offer lucrative brand sponsorship deals. They can create fake accounts under the name of credible businesses to avoid suspicion, or they may even hijack a verified account without its owner’s knowledge.

To sign you up, they will ask for your bank information and a few other personal details, which they could later use to target you for financial scams.

  • Shady Investments

Cryptocurrency-related investment schemes are particularly widespread on Instagram. Unlike legitimate ones, they offer hard-to-resist returns, usually with zero or minimal risks.

But these opportunities are available for a limited time, so you are encouraged to invest quickly. Once you do, the promoters will disappear without a trace, leaving you with little hope of ever recovering the money you have lost.

  • Fake Prize Offers

Criminals often use competitions and lotteries to phish for personal information by promising a chance to win attractive prizes.

Since entry is free, most people will be willing to take part. Little do they realize they are compromising their identity and safety. 

  • Reactivate-Your-Account Scams

These could involve an email or direct message from a scammer impersonating Instagram, informing you of a temporary account deactivation due to unusual activity.

To get access to your account again, you are asked to click a link and log in to your profile. However, the link takes you to a fake sign-in page designed to steal account credentials.

How Can You Remain Safe on Instagram?

Simple measures can help you create a secure digital environment and enjoy this popular social media platform.

Pay Attention to Unusual Behavior

Is a potential romantic partner you have met on Instagram giving excuses to avoid meeting you in person?

Does an investment promoter on the platform seem unwilling to provide detailed information or meet at their office?

Or have you noticed anything unusual about a friend who has requested some money for an urgent matter via a DM?

Unexpected behavior or sudden changes in a person could be red flags that you are interacting with a scammer.

Verify Who You Are Dealing With

Authenticating information is critical on Instagram, even when you think you are interacting with someone familiar.

For instance,

  • Carefully check the account of the relevant individual or organization, whether you are buying a product or applying for a job offer. Highly edited photos, incomplete bios, fake followers, and lack of user activity could mean a fraudulent profile.
  • Look for the verification badge on the accounts of well-known organizations and individuals.
  • Reverse search identifiable details, such as names, contact numbers, and email addresses.
  • If you already know the relevant person or have a verified method to contact them, reach out to them directly to confirm their on-platform communications with you.

Keep Your Data Secure

Most Instagram scammers deploy various deceitful tactics to phish for personal or confidential information. So, proactively protecting your data is essential for avoiding their traps.

  • Never disclose identifiable details to anyone online when there is no valid reason to do so.
  • Prevent strangers from tracking your Instagram activities by switching your profile to private mode.
  • Turn off data tracking and sharing features under your profile settings.
  • Avoid linking third-party accounts and apps to your Instagram account to prevent unnecessary data intrusions.

Be Wary of Linked Content

You can often come across malicious links via Instagram posts and direct messages. These can download malware or direct you to unsafe websites that phish for data. 

So, unverified links are best ignored.

Strengthen Account Security

To keep your Instagram profile safe from cyber criminals,

  • Apply a strong password that uses a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters. Never share it with anyone or reuse it for other online accounts and devices.
  • Enable two-factor authentication for added security. It can protect your account if you ever face a password breach.
  • Set up a VPN to encrypt your online activities, and avoid using unsecured public Wi-Fi networks that can expose you to cyberattacks.
  • Install reliable anti-virus software to fight malware threats.

To Conclude

Over the years, Instagram has taken proactive steps to protect its users from emerging risks. However, you also have a responsibility to mind your safety by adopting a cautious approach when engaging online.

Remember, the internet is still a faceless medium. Technologies, such as artificial intelligence and deep fake, have made it easier to manipulate your cyber reality.

So, implementing the measures we have discussed in this article is imperative, not just on Instagram but across the digital space, if you want to shield yourself from evolving threats.