Instagram scams: fake DMs, phishing links and hacked-account messages
Quick answer
Instagram scams include fake DMs, ads for products that never arrive, investment 'coaches', romance and fake account warnings. Instagram says it never sends DMs about your account. Don't reply or click: report the message in the app and secure your account.
- Comes by
- Social media, Email, Ad, Text
- Last updated
How it works
Scammers use Instagram because a DM or an ad can reach almost anyone. The FTC's April 2026 data spotlight says nearly 30% of people who reported losing money to a scam in 2025 said it started on social media. Facebook led, with WhatsApp and Instagram a distant second and third.
The versions you're most likely to see:
- Shopping scams. An ad for something cheap, then nothing arrives. The FTC says shopping scams were the most reported on social media, and more than 40% of people who lost money to a social media scam said it started with an order from an ad.
- Investment and trading 'coaches'. A DM or ad promises training or big returns. The FTC says investment scams caused the largest social media losses in 2025, about $1.1 billion.
- Romance scams. Someone builds a relationship over DMs and then asks for money or steers you to an investment. The FTC says nearly 60% of people who reported losing money to a romance scam in 2025 said it began on social media.
- Phishing and fake account warnings. A message or email claims you broke a rule or your account is at risk and sends you to a fake login page. Instagram says it will never send you direct messages about your account in the app.
- Impersonation. A fake profile copies you or a friend to ask for money.
Red flags
- A DM or email warning about your account that asks you to log in through a link
- A stranger who builds a relationship fast, then brings up money or investing
- Promises of guaranteed returns or 'coaching' from someone who messaged you first
- A friend's account suddenly asking for money or a code
- An ad for a product at a price that seems too good, from a shop with no history
- Pressure to move the chat to another app or pay by gift card or crypto
Example message
Your account has been flagged for a copyright violation and will be disabled within 24 hours. To appeal, verify your login at [link].
What to do
- 1
Don't reply or click
Instagram's advice is not to respond to a suspicious message. Don't open links or attachments.
- 2
Report it in the app
Report the message or profile to Instagram. For a fake profile pretending to be you or someone you know, tap Options, then Report, then Report Account, then 'It's pretending to be someone else'.
- 3
If you entered your password on a fake page
Reset your password, log out of devices you don't recognize and turn on two-factor authentication. If you can't log in, use Instagram's account recovery options.
- 4
Report suspicious emails
Instagram says you can send suspicious emails that claim to be from it to phish@instagram.com.
- 5
If you paid
Call your bank or card issuer and say it was fraud, then report it to the FTC.
Report it
Check if your details are exposed with Serus
Scammers find your number and address on data brokers and people-search sites. Serus removes them.
Why you got it
A scammer on Instagram can find you from a public profile, but they get a lot more convincing when they know your real name, phone number or where you live. That information comes from people-search sites and breaches.
Serus finds where your phone number and address are listed on people-search sites and other data brokers and removes them. It also alerts you when your details show up in a breach. That won't stop every message, but it leaves scammers with less to work from. If you clicked or shared anything, our guide on what to do after a data breach covers the next steps.
Common Instagram scams
- Instagram scam post A post, ad or DM on Instagram that offers a prize, a too-cheap item, a loan or a sure-fire way to make money is a common scam setup. The tell: it asks for a fee, card details or a login. Don't engage. Report the post in the app, and report fraud at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- Instagram scams Yes. Scammers use social media, Instagram included, to send fake prize offers, romance approaches and requests for money. Anyone in your feed saying they have money to give you is a scammer. Don't pay, stop contact, report it and tell the FTC.
- Instagram scam accounts Scam Instagram accounts pretend to be a company, a public figure, a friend or Instagram itself, then push you to pay a fee, move to another app or log in somewhere else. Don't reply or pay. Report the account in Instagram and at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Frequently asked
Will Instagram message me about my account?
Instagram says it will never send you direct messages about your account in the Instagram app. Treat those as phishing.
Someone is pretending to be me on Instagram. What can I do?
Report the profile in the app as pretending to be someone else. Instagram's help pages say it can act on reports from the person being impersonated or their authorized representative.
I clicked a link in an Instagram DM. What now?
If you entered your password, reset it, log out of other devices and turn on two-factor authentication. If you entered card details, call your card issuer.
Is Instagram a scam?
No, but scammers use it. The FTC says Facebook was the leading platform for social media scam losses in 2025, with WhatsApp and Instagram second and third.
Sources
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