F-Secure Scam Protection
A complete guide to Instagram scams
With over 2 billion monthly active users, Instagram has become a prime hunting ground for scammers. Here, we’ll help you recognize the warning signs of Instagram scams and protect your identity, finances, and digital security when using social media.
Understanding Instagram scams
Instagram scams have evolved drastically in recent years, becoming more sophisticated and harder to detect. These fraudulent schemes typically involve bad actors who create fake profiles or hack legitimate accounts to target unsuspecting users through direct messages, comments, and sponsored content. The ultimate goal of scammers is to steal personal information, financial details, or manipulate victims into sending money directly.
Instagram scams target users across all age groups and demographics, but certain groups face heightened risk. Young adults aged 18-24 are disproportionately victimized (BBB Scam Tracker Report 2023), often through fake job opportunities and romance scams that exploit their career aspirations and social connections. Meanwhile, older adults (55+) experience the highest average financial losses, particularly through investment scams on Instagram promising unrealistic returns. Women are targeted 1.5 times more frequently than men for shopping and romance-related scams, while business accounts face sophisticated brand impersonation and fake collaboration schemes.
Fast facts
Social media scams accounted for $2.7 billion in losses between 2021 and 2023, with Instagram being a primary platform for these schemes.
47% of US adults use Instagram, with that figure rising to 78% among 18-30-year-olds.
Young adults aged 18-24 are the most frequently targeted group on social media, with 55% reporting that they were approached by a scammer in the past 12 months.
Sources: Global Anti-Scam Alliance 2024, Pew Research Center 2024, NatWest Group 2024
How to spot a scam Instagram profile
Profile picture
All profiles should have a high-quality, up-to-date photo.
A pixelated, out-of-date, or missing profile picture is a common indicator of a scam Instagram account.
Bio
A profile bio should be on-brand and clear in its intentions.
Vague and generic bios — especially those with unusual links — are often signs of suspicious accounts.
Verification
Most major brands and influencers today have verified profiles. While verification can be a useful trust signal, it’s not foolproof — scammers have found ways to exploit the system. Remain cautious, even when an account appears verified.
Followers
Legitimate business accounts typically have more followers than accounts they follow. A very high following-to-follower ratio is often a red flag — especially if the account is claiming to be a brand or public figure.
Content
Legitimate social media profiles typically share a healthy mix of content — interactive posts, news, promotions, and occasional giveaways. If a large percentage of posts are focused solely on giveaways or seem too good to be true, it’s a strong indicator the account may not be genuine.
Posts
Accounts with very few posts, random or off-topic content, or images that appear stolen are often suspicious. Watch out for profiles featuring inconsistent selfies (especially of different people) or poorly designed graphics — these are common signs of scam accounts.
Common Instagram scams
Instagram users face an ever-evolving landscape of scams designed to exploit trust and steal sensitive information. Fraudsters on Instagram target individuals across all demographics, using Instagram’s visual platform and direct messaging capabilities to appear legitimate. Understanding the most common Instagram scams is essential for spotting suspicious activity before it’s too late. Here are the most prevalent Instagram scams to watch out for in 2025.
Fake investment opportunities
Scammers create profiles posing as financial experts or investment firms, promising unrealistic returns on cryptocurrency, forex trading, or investment schemes. They often display fabricated success stories and falsified profits in posts and Instagram Stories. After gaining trust through DMs, they pressure victims to transfer funds to fraudulent accounts, after which they disappear or demand additional fee payments.
In 2023, Lloyds Bank reported that 66% of all cryptocurrency fraud was beginning on social media (Lloyds Banking Group 2023), with one-third taking place on Instagram.
Romance scams & catfishing
It’s alarmingly easy for fraudsters to create attractive fake profiles and establish emotional connections through Instagram DMs. Scammers are often patient — developing trust over weeks or even months by sharing stolen photos and fabricated life stories.
Once trust is established, they manufacture emergencies to request money, solicit intimate photos for blackmail, or collect personal information for identity theft.
Verified badge scams
Be on the lookout for Instagram scam messages claiming to represent the platform’s verification team, offering the coveted blue checkmark for a fee. These fraudulent offers often include official-looking forms requesting personal information and payment details. Once the scammer receives the data or payment, they vanish — leaving victims without verification and potentially with compromised accounts.
Phishing links & account takeovers
Scammers send urgent Instagram messages falsely claiming that your account has been suspended or involved in copyright violations. These messages include links to “verify your identity” or “appeal” — but the links lead to fake Instagram login pages designed to steal your credentials. Once scammers gain access, they lock you out and use your compromised account to scam your contacts or demand payment for recovery.
Shopping & counterfeit product scams
Fraudulent Instagram shopping accounts advertise trending products at suspiciously low prices. These fake stores collect payments for products that never arrive, or ship counterfeit items. They often operate through temporary accounts with stolen product images and fabricated reviews, disappearing after collecting enough orders to maximize profits while avoiding platform detection.
With the rise of AI, more and more Instagram shopping scams are carried out using AI-generated images of products that don’t exist.
Best practices for avoiding Instagram scams
With the right precautions, Instagram can be a safe and enjoyable platform. Here are 12 best practices to help ensure you never fall victim to an Instagram scam:
Enable two-factor authentication: Add an extra security layer to prevent unauthorized access, even if your password is compromised.
Verify account legitimacy: Before engaging with an account, review its profile creation date, follower count, and post history. Remember that verified doesn’t necessarily mean reliable.
Never send money or gift cards: Legitimate businesses, celebrities, or Instagram itself will never request payment through direct messages.
Scrutinize messages with links: Hover over links without clicking to preview URLs. Additionally, never enter login credentials on websites accessed through direct messages.
Report suspicious activity: Use Instagram’s built-in reporting tools to flag potential scam accounts and help protect the online community.
Keep your profile private: Limit the personal information visible to strangers by adjusting your privacy settings and restricting account access.
Research before engaging: Google unfamiliar businesses or investment opportunities mentioned on Instagram before sharing any personal information.
Be skeptical of urgency: Time pressure is a common tactic in Instagram scam messages. Legitimate opportunities rarely require immediate action.
Use a unique, strong password: Create a complex password specifically for Instagram that differs from those used on other platforms.
Think before you share: Avoid posting identifiable information like your home address, phone number, or vacation dates publicly.
Communicate outside the platform: For business transactions, verify legitimacy through official websites or phone numbers found outside of Instagram.
Educate family members: Ensure everyone in your household understands Instagram scam warning signs, especially teenagers and older adults.
How F-Secure Total protects you from Instagram scams
F-Secure Total provides comprehensive protection against Instagram scams and much more through its advanced security features. The Banking Protection component shields your financial information when making purchases from Instagram ads or shops, while the Identity Protection service continuously monitors for data breaches that might compromise your Instagram credentials. Most importantly, F-Secure’s Browsing Protection prevents you from accessing malicious phishing sites linked in Instagram DM scams, blocking dangerous connections before your personal information can be stolen.
Beyond reactive protection, F-Secure Total offers proactive security through real-time scanning technology that detects suspicious messages and links on Instagram. The Password Manager helps create and store strong, unique passwords that prevent unauthorized Instagram access. With F-Secure Total’s comprehensive digital security, you can enjoy the best of Instagram while staying protected from increasingly sophisticated scams targeting users of all ages.
Avoid shopping, browsing and SMS scams, and secure your online banking.
Prevent identity theft with 24/7 monitoring and alerts.
Block viruses and protect all your devices.
Encrypt your connection and keep your personal data and passwords protected.
Instagram scams FAQ
Instagram scam messages often contain urgent requests, grammatical errors, suspicious links, or offers that seem too good to be true. Be wary of messages requesting money, personal information, or account verification, especially from accounts you don’t recognize or that have limited posting history.
If you’ve fallen victim to an Instagram scam, immediately change your password, enable two-factor authentication, and report the scam to Instagram. Contact your bank if you shared financial information, then file a report with your local authorities and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
While the blue verification badge indicates authenticity, scammers sometimes compromise verified accounts or pay for verification on fake profiles via Meta Verified. Always verify unusual requests through official channels outside of Instagram, even from verified profiles, as scams on Instagram continue to grow in sophistication.
Instagram DM scams typically start with unexpected messages claiming you’ve won a prize, offering investment opportunities, initiating romantic advances from strangers, or warning of urgent account problems. These messages often seem personalized but often contain subtle red flags.
No, Instagram scams target users of all ages, but usually with different tactics. Younger users often encounter influencer scams and fake giveaways, while older adults may be targeted with fake investment opportunities. Teenagers frequently receive Instagram scam messages about modeling opportunities or account verification services.
Clicking links in Instagram scam messages can lead to malware installation on your device, potentially giving scammers access to your personal data, photos, and stored passwords. Always verify the legitimacy of links before clicking, even from accounts that appear familiar.
Never. Official Instagram communications about monetary transactions or account verification do not occur through direct messages. Any direct message claiming to offer verification services, prize distribution, or requiring payment is guaranteed to be a scam.
Instagram scams are particularly effective because they exploit the platform’s visual nature and direct messaging feature. Scammers create convincing profiles with stolen images and engage through comments before moving to private messages, making their approach feel more personalized and trustworthy than on other platforms.
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Stop online scammers with Total
F-Secure Total provides complete online security, privacy, and identity protection in one brilliantly simple app.
Avoid shopping, browsing and SMS scams, and secure your online banking
Prevent identity theft with 24/7 monitoring and alerts
Block viruses and protect all your devices
Encrypt your connection and keep your personal data and passwords protected
Make the internet a safer place for kids with limits and filters