Fraud on Instagram: This is what you should know about the new blackmail scam
A new breed of scam on Instagram is causing fear among creator account users. Many of them have built up a large reach over the years with a lot of commitment. Now they have to fear that their account will suddenly be blocked – by Instagram.
The new scam on Instagram comes from blackmailers who demand large sums of money to release the profile again. Those affected include many influencers as well as entrepreneurs who are active on social platforms. Marketing professional Raoul Plickat was also blackmailed. He was supposed to pay a four-digit sum in cryptocurrency to strangers to restore his account with 18,000 followers. In his opinion, Instagram makes it easy for criminals. He now has his profile back thanks to good contacts with Instagram. In the following article, Raoul Plickat explains how fraud works on Instagram and why Instagram has to take quick action against the scammers.
Fraud on Instagram: How a good idea becomes a problem
Problems with fake accounts have been around for almost as long as Instagram itself. Celebrities and entrepreneurs, whom many users trust, are particularly affected. Because it is hardly possible for the users of the platform to distinguish between a real profile and a fake one. To remedy this, the platform introduced verification in 2018 - the blue tick. This tick indicates: This is the authentic profile. The verification confirms that the real person is acting on the account.
In order to get this verification from Instagram, one must first meet all the given requirements. The profile represents real people or brands that - with the exception of international brands - may only have one account each. In addition, the profile must be public and equipped with all filled-in information in the bio as well as a profile picture. It also applies that there is no reference to profiles in other social networks. Ultimately, the person or brand must be known, often searched for and represented in the media.
