Posted on May 1, 2021 at 4:57 PM

Instagram Warns Users About A New “Copyright Violations” Scam

Many people are being scammed by ads on Instagram and other social media platforms. These scams take different forms, including phishing scams, fake giveaways, and fake investment scams.  However, Instagram has warned about a new scam on Instagram and other social media sites.

The new scam tries to steal users’ login details by faking a copyright violation. Instagram has more than a billion active users, which makes it a mouthwatering destination for scammers. It is one of the most popular social media apps around the world.

However, like other social media apps, hackers and scammers have frequented the app looking for victims to scam and rip off.

Instagram says it never DM for copyright violations

The new scam method from this group of scammers uses spam messages that appear to be genuinely coming from the “Instagram Copyright Help Center”. However, Instagram has enlightened users by confirming that the message is not from them. According to Instagram, it can never DM users about copyright violations, which is what the scammers are doing.

‘Instagram will never DM you about Copyright violations or ever ask for any of your details like passwords etc,” the app stated.

It, therefore, advised users to avoid clicking or replying to any links in the message.

The content of the message from the scammers informs the user that they have detected a post that violates the copyright policy.

The message further tells the user that their account will be closed within 24 hours if they don’t provide feedback.

The message then asks the user to click on a provided link to correct the issue. However, when the user clicks on the link, they are required to provide details of their account like their username and password. When the user provides this information, the scammers automatically gain access to their account.

However, Instagram has provided a feature that allows users to check if a message is genuine and coming from Instagram. They can go to the “Emails from Instagram” section at the security setting to verify which emails they have actually received from Instagram. If any email appearing to be coming from Instagram is not listed there, it means the message is probably a scam.

Using two-factor authentication

Instagram has also advised users to enable two-fact authentication (2-FA) on their account to beef up security on their platform. With a 2FA, users will be asked to provide a special login code sent directly to their mobile number. The security also mandates a user to confirm their login after each attempt to access the account with a device not recognized by Instagram.

The user can decide to be sent a text message or use an authentication app whenever they log into their account.

Instagram cracks down on fake accounts

Instagram is trying to make its social app as safe and secure as possible. The app recently launched a crackdown on fake accounts registered on the portal.

The app has introduced a new feature that shows users’ information. As a result, users can now see who is behind any username, making it easier to recognize a scam.

This is coming weeks after its parent company Facebook launched a similar feature in a move to sieve fake accounts from its social media platform.

Another new feature is the “About This Account” feature, which enables users to see what type of advert the account is running. It also shows how often the user has changed the username of the account and where the account is located.

New registrants are now required to provide full real names and a copy of business or legal identification before they can complete their registration.

Additionally, Instagram plans to enable the use of third-party apps like Google Authenticator and DUO Mobile for 2FA to allow users to log into their accounts.

Instagram also wants to increase the number of verified accounts for public figures, global brands, and celebrities.