Instagram scam message examples
Example scam messages
A DM from 'Instagram Copyright Center': 'Your reel has been flagged for copyright infringement. Submit an appeal within 24 hours at instagram-appeal-form[.]example or your account will be permanently deleted.'
What gives it away:
- Check the claim inside the Instagram app and in your settings yourself, not through the DM's link
- The appeal link points to a lookalike address, not somewhere you reached by opening the app yourself
- A permanent-deletion countdown matches what Instagram describes: phishing messages that claim your account will be banned or deleted if you don't follow their directions
A polished account messages: 'We loved your content and want you as a brand ambassador. Confirm your business profile at instagram-partner-portal[.]example so we can send your first paid brief this week.'
What gives it away:
- A page that asks you to 'confirm' your business profile and sign in fits Instagram's description of phishing: a suspicious message or link that asks for your personal information
- A professional-looking profile or blue tick doesn't prove an unexpected offer is genuine, because Instagram says scammers may create fake accounts or compromise existing ones; check the brand through its own website instead
- Instagram says not to answer, and to report, messages that ask for your password, so don't type your Instagram login into a page you reached from a message
How to check a message you've received
Never tap a link in an unexpected message. Instead, paste the text into the free message checker for an instant verdict, or check a suspicious link with the link & website checker. To verify directly, contact Instagram through its official app or the number on its real website — never the details in the message itself.
Understand the scam and the brand
Not sure about a message?
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Frequently asked questions
Is this Instagram message real or a scam?
The messages on this page are defanged examples of Instagram impersonation scams — illustrations modelled on common scam patterns, not genuine Instagram messages. To judge a specific message you've received, paste it into the free Scam Scanner checker for an instant verdict, or verify it directly through Instagram's official app or website.
How can I tell a fake Instagram message from a genuine one?
Instagram says it won't send you direct messages about your account in the Instagram app, and that you can view official Instagram emails sent within the last 14 days in your Instagram settings. The examples below break down the tells that give a fake away — unexpected links, urgency, and requests for payment or details. If anything asks you to click a link or hand over information, treat it as suspicious until you've verified it independently.
What should I do if I already clicked a link or paid?
Act quickly: contact your bank, then follow the step-by-step recovery guide at /what-to-do. It walks you through who to contact — your bank, IDCARE and the right reporting channel — in the order that matters most.