I just got on Instagram and added my family and friends. One of my online friends, A, who I mostly chat with through social media, got impersonated. This fake account followed me and had a bio saying their main account wasn’t working. It even used the same profile picture as A’s real account, which is creepy because A is a minor.
Anyway, I messaged this fake account asking what happened. They replied after a while with, “Can you do me a favor?” This was weird because we don’t usually talk much. I asked what they needed, and they said, “Can you spare $50?” That’s when I got suspicious. I said I didn’t have $50, and then they asked how much I could spare. This made me certain it wasn’t A.
I immediately told my other friend, N, about it. Turns out, the fake account had also messaged her, starting with, “Can you do me a favor?” N said no, and they claimed, “It’s not about money.” Then they asked for a password reset, saying their phone was off and they lost N’s number. But A doesn’t even own a computer, so N called them out, and the scammer stopped responding.
We both blocked the fake account and told A about it right away. The fake account was deleted, but it was such a creepy experience. Just wanted to share what happened this morning.
Heads up, when you post here, scammers might DM you pretending to be recovery experts offering to help for a fee. Don’t trust private messages about help. If you need advice, stick to public comments so others can spot scammers.
Also, remember: no sharing personal info like phone numbers or names here. Keep things civil, and if you see anything against the rules, report it. Stay safe!
Yeah, this is a super common scam. It’s great that you picked up on it quickly. If you hang around this forum, you’ll learn about all kinds of scams so you can spot them faster. Good job staying suspicious!
Just kidding! But seriously, scams target everyone. If someone asks for money, always confirm directly with them in person or with a call. You were smart to be cautious. Keep questioning anyone who DMs you out of nowhere.
@tyra
Haha, thanks! I’m pretty careful since I don’t usually respond to random DMs. I only just got Instagram and mainly use it to talk to my close friends and family.
Never lend money to someone you barely know, and definitely not online. Also, nobody needs someone else to reset their password. If anyone asks you for codes, they’re trying to steal your account.
