Scammers on Instagram are a fairly common occurrence that came with the monetization of the popular service. Social networks have ceased to be just a convenient platform for communication, many people earn money here, so it is not surprising that dishonest people quickly adapted to the virtual dimension. We will tell you how not to fall for the tricks of cunning scammers, save not only money, but also nerves.
Types of fraudsters
It’s difficult to guess what kind of fraud you can fall for here. Every day, scammers and swindlers improve their skills, honing their craft. Since Instagram has become an effective online trading platform, all kinds of fraudsters can be found here.
Today, we can identify a list of the most common types of fraud:
- black market dealers;
- marriage scammers;
- online stores selling non-existent goods;
- selling fake online courses, master classes, scripts, and algorithms;
- “begging” – collecting donations for non-existent shelters and “dying” children;
- stealing confidential data (payment details, email, phone, PIN code);
- charlatanism of various kinds: fortune tellers, witches, various family psychologists.
As usual, not only new inexperienced users fall for online scams, but also regular users. Many fall for bright advertising posts, attractive discounts, and promotions, but the most cunning move is a large number of ordered positive comments.
Schemes of deception and communication style of fraudsters
To avoid falling for obvious scams, it is necessary to know the distinguishing features that immediately give away fraudsters and crooks. As usual, it is very difficult to identify a professional swindler at first glance, but there are types of scams that have already made a name for themselves.
Phishing methods
Many users are not even aware of how easily scammers can gain open access to Instagram account profiles. Why they need it:
- to steal personal data from the profile;
- to steal a popular page.
Attention! After obtaining login credentials, scammers gain full access to information in the profile, which includes phone number, email, and access to all linked social media pages.
Fraud during a transaction
Selling goods on Instagram is a common and profitable business. The popular social network has a multi-million user base, which makes it a great advertising and trading tool. An Instagram online store is almost no different from offline stores, with the same storefront and products on display.
A wide variety of products are sold here, including cosmetics, children’s and adult clothing, household appliances, pet products, and much more. Super new products are often advertised in full swing on Instagram even before they are officially released for sale.
As usual, an ad block with the words “for first-time buyers, promotion and discount” catches the eye. This is how gullible buyers are lured in. However, there are pitfalls, and not every store, but one out of ten, can turn out to be fake. Buyers send money for the purchased goods, usually 100% prepayment, but in the end, they receive nothing. They have to say goodbye to the money they sent, as there is simply no way to get it back.
Beggars for Grooms or Brides
A fairly well-known way of modern scamming. It’s very sad that both guys and girls use it. The main action usually follows this scenario:
- A high-quality profile is created on Instagram, with a variety of seductive “personal” photos posted.
- If it’s a male scammer, he’s usually a lonely guy with a beautiful pumped-up torso who has lost his love and has no one to comfort him.
- Girls use an identical scheme, with a cute face, plump lips, and seductive curves in their avatar and “personal” photos. Naturally, the girl is lonely and looking for love.
As a result, love at first sight and the involvement of deeper feelings. “Lovers” from different cities or even countries think about how to get money? There are many ways, such as wanting to come but not having money for the trip or having problems with documents that were stolen and need money to restore them. Various cunning methods are invented! Thus, having received the desired amount, the “groom” or “bride” disappears from their page.
Offer to use someone else’s payment details
Here is the most complex but profitable way of exclusive fraud on Instagram – your payment details. How does the scam work? According to a well-established scheme, but mostly with the help of fraudsters who, by the way, are very good psychologists and find their approaches to each victim to gain their trust.
The first scheme is simple, pay attention:
1. The buyer purchases a product or service in an Insta-shop, but payment is only offered in one way – by card.
2. At first, nothing suspicious, especially since the buyer does not ask for 100% prepayment for the product, but only a certain insurance payment for shipping.
3. In this case, there are two outcomes – the buyer must enter their full details in a certain form, including their name, surname, patronymic, phone number, card number, and PIN code.
4. In another case, the buyer may be redirected to a fake payment page. A special program records all the entered numbers and passwords, and then sends them to the fraudster’s email.
In both cases, the outcome is the same. After entering all the necessary information, all the money will be withdrawn from your card within 10 minutes, down to the last penny. In the worst case, if possible, they may even take out a loan in your name.
The top way to scam money on Instagram
The most popular scam on Instagram is the offer to quickly make large sums of money through various sports betting. Have you ever received direct messages from cool “bookmakers”? Recently, it’s just been spam! Cool traders and bookmakers attack from all sides.
To be honest, the messages look so attractive and tempting! Yes, with confirmation of earnings in screenshots. These “workers” out of the goodness of their hearts invite you to a private chat for super earning schemes for a “small fee”.
There are different schemes, but they definitely won’t teach you how to make super big money through black earnings! In the best case, you will spend a small amount to enter a private channel, and in the worst case, you will be drawn into the game. At first, you will have unstoppable luck, but after you see that the signals work and place a large bet, everything will work against you. For gamblers, this is a terrible evil, as they try to recoup, borrow large sums of money, and in the end, everything settles in the pockets of resourceful adventurers.
How to file a complaint against scammers
No matter what kind of Instagram fraud you encounter in 2019, you won’t be able to get your money back if you gave it away yourself. The only thing you can and should do in this case is to urgently report it to the moderators. You should do this as quickly as possible so that scammers cannot deceive other users with impunity.
You can report scammers on Instagram through your profile by writing to customer support. It would be a big plus if you have screenshots of all financial transactions. The most effective way to punish fraudsters is to expose them on the internet.
In this case, find a forum or blog dedicated to Instagram fraud, as there are plenty of such resources now. Describe your situation to the moderators, and they will publish a clear scheme of the scam and those who use it. This will have an effect, but not for long. Professional scammers simply create a new profile and start all their machinations again. So how do you protect yourself from adventurers, cheats, and scammers on Instagram?
Ways to protect yourself from scammers on Instagram
Actually, there aren’t many ways to protect yourself from scammers on social media. Mostly, it involves your attentiveness and vigilance. Here’s what you need to pay attention to:
- filling out your Instagram profile – username, page name, photo or company logo;
- product images – the photo of the item for sale should be high-quality, made in one style, not a mishmash of images from the internet;
- trust customer reviews about the seller, if it’s a store;
- if you don’t trust the reviews (fake online stores can make their own reviews), contact customers, chat, ask your questions, find out everything about the seller.
In any case, your safety is always in your hands! There are situations where everything indicates that the seller is an honest person, but you’re concerned about a large prepayment for the item or the use of your card details, don’t use the online account to transfer money. Such a transfer cannot be revoked, but if you transfer money through a bank branch, the employees will help you reverse the transaction if there’s any suspicion of fraud.
A few words in conclusion. Since social media has become not just a platform for convenient communication, but a popular trading niche, various black market dealers have emerged. Scammers on Instagram are not an exception, but rather a given. There is no legislative basis for them, so this business of “honestly” taking your money will continue to thrive. Take care of yourself, don’t fall for discounts, freebies, and various tricks! Your safety is in your vigilance and attention!