Instagram Influencer Scams

The Instagram Influencer Scam: Protecting Yourself and Your Brand

Instagram has become one of the most popular social media platforms in recent years, with millions of users logging in every day to share their lives, interests, and passions with their followers. Along with this popularity, there has been a rise in the number of influencers who use Instagram to promote products and services. However, with the increased popularity of Instagram influencers comes a new type of scam the Instagram influencer scam.

What is an Instagram Influencer Scam?

An Instagram influencer scam is a type of fraud where scammers target Instagram influencers and offer them fake advertising deals, often involving large sums of money. The scammers may ask for upfront payment or personal information from the influencer, or they may simply disappear after the influencer has provided them with their advertising space.

Types of Instagram Influencer Scams

There are several types of Instagram influencer scams, each with their own unique characteristics and warning signs.

Fake Advertising Deals

One of the most common Instagram influencer scams is the fake advertising deal. Scammers will reach out to influencers and offer them a deal to promote a product or service on their Instagram account. They will often offer a large sum of money upfront, but will then disappear after receiving the advertising space.
To avoid falling victim to this scam, influencers should be wary of deals that seem too good to be true, and should always research the company before accepting an offer.

Fake Followers and Engagement

Another common Instagram influencer scam is the creation of fake followers and engagement. Scammers will often create fake Instagram accounts and use them to follow influencers, like their posts, and leave comments. They may also offer to sell followers and likes to influencers for a fee.

Influencers should be wary of accounts with few followers and low engagement rates, as these are often signs of fake accounts. They should also be careful when purchasing followers or likes, as this can damage their credibility and reputation in the long run.

Phishing Scams

Phishing scams are another type of Instagram influencer scam. Scammers will create fake login pages that look identical to the official Instagram login page, and then send them to influencers in an email or message. When the influencer enters their login information, the scammers will then have access to their Instagram account.

To avoid this type of scam, influencers should always be wary of links sent in messages or emails, and should only log in to Instagram through the official app or website.

How to Avoid Instagram Influencer Scams

There are several steps influencers can take to avoid falling victim to Instagram influencer scams:

Research Companies and Brands

Before accepting any advertising deal, influencers should thoroughly research the company or brand they will be promoting. They should look for reviews and feedback from other influencers who have worked with the company, and should also check the companys website and social media pages to ensure they are legitimate.

Verify Contacts

Influencers should always verify the identity of the person or company they are communicating with. They can do this by checking their website, social media profiles, and business registration information.

Be Wary of Upfront Payments

Influencers should be wary of deals that require upfront payments or personal information, such as bank account details. These are often warning signs of a scam.

Check Engagement Rates

Influencers should check their engagement rates regularly to ensure that they are not receiving fake engagement from fake accounts. They can do this by using Instagram’s built-in analytics tools or third-party tools such as Hootsuite.

Be Careful When Buying Followers or Likes

Buying followers and likes may seem like a quick way to boost an influencer’s profile, but it can have long-term negative consequences. Not only can it damage their credibility and reputation, but it can also lead to their account being penalized by Instagram.