Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms.However, criminals hide from millions of users who abuse Instagram to cheat people.This is what the online service knows, which has been part of Facebook since 2012.In a help area, the platform warns of known mesh.
If nothing turns out of the romance
In the "romantic fraud" listed by Instagram, criminals stipulate in search of a relationship.You contact strangers and, for example, try to bring money for alleged flight tickets after you have made your trust.In contrast, the fraudsters try to spend an organization or the like in the "lottery fraud".Among other things, they claim that users have won in a lottery, but first have to pay a fee to get the profit paid out.The aim of the criminals can also be to find out a victim's personal data or bank details.
On the other hand, the perpetrators often offer immediate loans to low interest rates when it comes to "loan fraud", but only against an advance payment - with which they may then disappear.But it can also happen that the fraudsters ask for further payments.In the "investment fraud", high profits are promised after the investment of low amounts.For example, a few hundred euros should become thousands of euros within a short time.The money invested is very simply gone at some point.
Criminals also want to get data from their victims in the "job fraud".They lure with false displays.If the offer sounds too good to be true - or an advance payment is required - users should be listed.In addition, Instagram also warns of paid subscriptions and advises not to respond to such offers from unknown people in general.In addition, caution is advised against phishing.Personal data should also be used here via messages or links, which could be used, for example, to get access to an Instagram account.
Users should pay attention to this
The above is just a selection of methods that fraudsters could use.Therefore, Instagram also lists a whole series of signs that could indicate that you are dealing with a criminal.If accounts have only recently been active on Instagram or are a well-known company and are not verified, caution is just as important as for news that contains countless grammar or spelling mistakes.
Even if people ask for money or accounts with incredible discounts, it could be a trap.In addition, users should not click on suspicious links and do not respond to send money or codes for gift vouchers if they are requested, for example, as a condition for a profit.
Instagram offers a detailed list of possible signs and widespread fraud types on its help page.If you come across as a user, you can also report profiles, contributions, news and comments directly to Instagram.
