A rise in Instagram impersonation scams is hitting young people in the UK. It’s important to learn how to avoid being a victim and how to change your passwords. You should also be aware of cloned Instagram accounts and paid subscription scams. You should never provide your credit card details to anyone, even if they seem legit.
Impersonation scams target young people
An increase in the number of Instagram impersonation scams is worrying UK youth. Instagram users have reported more than a thousand accounts being hijacked in the past year. The most common of these scams is purchase fraud, but e-scooters have also recently become a target. The social network encourages young people to report these fraudulent accounts, and will refund users who are deemed blameless.
Scammers are using various methods to hijack personal accounts, including Instagram phishing. In this scam, the victim receives an urgent message requesting money, which is usually accompanied by a request to provide account login details. Fraudsters often pose as trusted sources in order to trick victims into giving them what they want. Some examples of impersonation scams include romance phishing, where a person pretends to be a loved one or friend and requests money. Others involve claiming a prize or award for which the victim needs to pay a small fee.
The UK police and financial services have launched a campaign to stop the impersonation scams. Instagram has taken action against these scammers, which use fake accounts to steal money from innocent people. If you feel that your account has been hacked, you should contact your bank and financial services to report it. In addition, you should also inform your followers about the scam so that they can take steps to stop it. Another way to protect yourself is to block any fake accounts.
The rise of Instagram impersonation scams targeting UK youth is worrying. Organised criminal gangs are quickly gaining ground in the online community, and are able to adapt deceptive methods to target UK youth. This is why people should never accept a request to send money to an unknown person.
Change your passwords
Many people don’t realise that Instagram is a prime target for scammers. These criminals can use your login details to take over your account and cause havoc on your account. In addition to changing your password, they can send you phishing links or a fake message asking for your account login details. They can use this information to carry out identity fraud or withdraw your money. Scammers are increasingly using direct messaging to spread their scams, so be extra vigilant and change your passwords regularly.
It is essential that you change your passwords across all of your accounts to keep your profile safe. This means not only changing your Instagram password, but also all of your other accounts. Also, you should never reuse the same password on different websites. Scammers often use the same password on multiple websites.
Instagram has become a prime target for these criminals and, as a result, users have filed more than 1,000 reports of scams on the site. The parent company, Meta, recovered 50 hijacked accounts in February and donated PS3m to Citizens Advice. The most common scam, however, is purchase fraud, and the latest lure has been e-scooters.
Another common scam involves fake jobs on Instagram. These fraudsters prey on your emotion to gain access to your account. They might ask you to supply your driver’s licence or passport data – but in reality they are not offering you a genuine job. It is a common scam, but the scammers don’t even bother with the job offer itself. You should never fall for it.
Beware of cloned Instagram accounts
In recent weeks, we’ve seen an increase in the number of fake Instagram accounts targeting the UK youth. An example was the cloned Instagram account of Emma Heathcote-James, who was excited to have a relaxing bank holiday break with her friends. Upon checking Instagram, she found an account that was cloned, and the scammers had even tagged her in a photo.
Cloned Instagram accounts often mimic real accounts, so it’s important to check who is behind them. The accounts are not verified, so if you notice a profile that looks like yours, you can report it to the Instagram community for investigation. In addition, Instagram provides an in-app feature that allows users to report suspicious accounts.
Cloned Instagram accounts often follow other accounts and ask for private information. The fake account will follow as many as 100 accounts and request information from followers. If you suspect your account is being used by a scammer, reach out to your friends via an alternative method. Locking your account down is essential and selectively selecting who follows you.
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