Instagram• 5 min read
Instagram Scams: From Influencer Impersonation to Story Phishing
Instagram remains the highest-volume social scam channel for under-25s. The attacks are increasingly indistinguishable from real DMs.
'I saw you in this video / on this list'
Link goes to a fake login page. Captures your password and 2FA.
Fake brand collab
Asks you to 'apply' on a third-party site, then steals login.
Verified-badge phishing
DM from 'Meta Verified Team' — Meta never DMs about verification.
Locked account 'appeal'
Pressures you to click within 24 hours. Always go via Instagram settings, never the DM link.
The bottom line
Send the suspicious DM or link to ScamGuard on WhatsApp for a verdict.