Do you use Instagram? You probably do if you are up to 35 years old, as well as Gen Z, or anyone else for that matter.
So, there is certainly a high probability that you do! Over one billion users use Instagram every month, and it currently sits in the top five social media apps in the world in terms of active users. At the moment, in terms of active users, the top five are; Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, and the Chinese WeChat followed by TikTok (also Chinese-owned).
Since its launch in 2010, Instagram has changed the face of social media as we know it. There was nothing like it at the time, in terms of an app that can do such things.
As of Q1 2022, the platform has over 1.4 billion active monthly users. Now, in 2023, that figure is an estimated two billion. Furthermore, Instagram has generated over $5 billion in revenue in 2022 alone which is almost half of what Facebook generated! Perhaps the greatest statistic of all that proves the power of Instagram is that it is the most downloaded app in the world!
That is all fine and dandy, but you must also realize that huge online platforms are a honeypot for scammers and criminals, which is why you must pay attention to your privacy and cybersecurity! Most people are not aware of the top Instagram scams in 2023 or realize the impact these scenarios can have on their cybersecurity and privacy.
What Is Instagram?
Instagram is the app that revolutionized and popularized the social media world. Back in 2010, nobody knew just how popular it would become. We were still anchored on older forms of social media such as the early Facebook and we knew nothing about smartphone social media apps. The appearance of Instagram coincided with the release of the iPhone 4s and iPhone 5 which were the first of the proper smartphones able to handle such an app.
Today, Instagram is a completely different beast, as are smartphones which are ten times as powerful as they were a decade ago. This means that users today can share high-definition video content like reels, DM hundreds of people, share photos, add effects, add stories, and much more. As such, Instagram has fostered a cult following with everybody from children to mega-celebrities and large organizations. Having an Instagram account has become the norm these days.
However, most of us are not aware of just how bad scams and hacking can be on social media. Naturally, Instagram is a magnet for these kinds of things. Let’s talk about that and how you can protect yourself from them1
What Are the Top Instagram Scams?
Whether in the digital world or ‘IRL’, scams are scams. They are there to trick you and steal something from you, whether that be money, your identity or simply to prank you. If you are not aware of these and have not secured your devices as well as set up your account settings properly, you might fall for it one day.
As far as Instagram is concerned, the following are what you should be aware of. Scams can initially stem from email or a direct message of some sort. Users can experience malicious emails, known as phishing emails, fake investment offers and collab requests, the fake sale of likes and followers, fake giveaways and job offers, and imposter brand accounts. Criminals will use various strategies to hack their Instagram accounts, often via social engineering (tricking the person or playing them).
In terms of phishing scams, these start in the form of an email and are a quick way for criminals to make gains. If you have your email advertised somewhere, anyone can send you a fake email loaded with a malicious link for you to click on. Sometimes, scammers can ‘spoof’ the sender’s address to trick you into thinking you just got an email from Instagram! If you interact with any of this by entering your password, your account is as good as gone.
Secondly, you can also be contacted via DM by scammers and criminals promising something or urging you to do something. Sometimes, an account belonging to someone you know can be hacked and an imposter may reach out to you! It is very important to be diligent about who exactly is contacting you.
How to Protect Yourself from Instagram Scams
Protecting yourself from Instagram scams starts by becoming a little more aware and setting up your cybersecurity properly. This means;
- Making your account more private, instead of public
- Using strong passwords and never repeating the same password twice
- Enabling two-factor authentication on your Instagram account
- Never Interacting with emails that come from suspicious sources
- Never buying anything on Instagram unless the profiles are verified
- Checking your login activity in Settings > Security > Login Activity from time to time
- Reviewing your third-party apps in Settings > Security > Apps and Websites and revoking permission to apps that are not verified or trusted
- Not responding to strange direct messages urging you to do something
That is the general frame of mind you need to protect yourself from scams. It would also be a good idea to encrypt your internet connection with premium VPN software like NordVPN, as well as use premium antivirus software on your device, just in case. These will do most of the hard security work for you.
If you find that you have been duped, immediately report the scam to Instagram or your local police department (if it is financial fraud) and freeze your bank accounts.
Remember, scams do not only affect Instagram. Any large social media platform can suffer the same issues, simply because anyone can sign up for a social media platform (including ill-intentioned individuals like scammers and hackers).
By following all of the tips above, you will be 99% safe from scams. That one percent that remains is in Instagram’s own hands as a company that stores user data.