Instagram

Learn how to spot fake Instagram accounts with easy tips to identify bots, scammers, and protect your real followers.

Instagram is considered one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 2 billion
monthly active users who use it to post snaps and reels with relevant hashtags online. Meta,
which also owns Facebook and WhatsApp, administers it and helps Instagram users enjoy ease of use across multiple platforms with a shared messenger and the option to post similar stories.

Like any other social media platform, Instagram has also witnessed a significant hike in the number of fake accounts that are used for identity theft, scams, impersonation fraud, and much more. Hence, it is essential for Instagram users to be wary of such fake profiles and take necessary measures to identify, block, and report them.

Unfortunately, however, many Instagram users are unaware of strategies they can use to spot
fake accounts to sidestep any social engineering tactics meant to harm them.

This article outlines the necessary tactics you can use as an Instagram user to identify fake
accounts and stay away from them.

Read on to learn more.

Look for Common Red Flags

Like fake accounts created on any other social media platform, some common traits of spammy accounts on Instagram are easily visible. You can consider them red flags and indicators of social engineering.

Here,s a more detailed breakdown:

Generic Profile

Unlike genuine accounts that post quotes, graphics, portraits, or videos accompanied by
background music, fake Instagram accounts are usually generic. You may not see a profile picture, any noteworthy post, or anything that can help you know much about the person behind the account.

Here are some signs of a generic profile:

● No display picture at all or a generic one.
● Vague, copied, irrelevant, or overly promotional bio.
● Suspicious links are attached to the bio.
● Random or irrelevant comments.

Odd Username

Another sign of a suspicious profile is an illogical username. A suspicious profile trying to
approach you with malicious intent will have a username that will be a random combination of letters and numbers, making no sense at all. It may also appear like a slight variation of an
actual username.

Here are some usual signs of odd usernames you will find on a possibly fake account:

● Use of numerals instead of letters, such as ‘0’ in place of ‘o’.
● Generous use of underscores
● Unnecessary inclusion of exclamation signs
● Possible resemblance to a known username for deception purposes.

Fishy Account Creation Date

You may also find the account creation of a possible fake account suspicious. The account
creation date can tell you a lot about the person trying to approach you on Instagram. If the account was created just a few hours before sending the request, there is a high chance that it was created with the intention to scam others. If an account was created long ago but just activated, it could be a sign that fraudsters have obtained an inactive account that was dormant for years and are currently using it for social engineering.

Spammy Activity

You must also keep an eye out for the activity, including posts and engagement, of suspicious
content. There could be multiple signs of spammy activity on a suspicious account.

Here are a few of them:

● Content posted on the account may not align with the claims in the bio.
● First post made very recently.
● Long gaps between various posts.
● Dozens of posts were made during a single day or a couple of days.
● Generic comments were made on dozens of posts in a very short time.
● You may see thousands of followers or none at all, or vice versa.
● Too many followers or following with no reciprocal engagement.
● Direct messages with generic salutations or surreal promotional offers.

Turn to Pro Verification Tactics

If you spot a few or all potential red flags in a suspicious account, don’t respond to any request, and use some pro verification tactics to ensure that you have avoided a potential spam.

Here are some pro verification tactics:

Leverage the “About this account” Option

Once you have identified potential red flags, it is time to thoroughly inspect the profile and use your critical analysis skills to determine whether it belongs to an actual person.

The best way to do so is to visit the profile and tap the 3 dots at the top right of the underlying profile. Choose the ‘About this account’ option shown in the menu. Once you select the aforementioned option, you will see multiple things that can help you determine the nature of the profile you are viewing.

This feature will disclose the following things:

1. Account creation date
2. Country of origin
3. Former usernames

Go through all these elements, and if the country of origin doesn’t match the claims made by the profile, you are probably seeing a malicious account. Additionally, having too many former usernames with no relevance is a sign of a scam or social engineering.

Perform Face search

Now it’s time to focus on the profile picture linked to the suspicious account. Since you may not be able to download the display image directly, the best approach is to zoom in on the screen and take a clear screenshot. Next, upload the screenshot to an AI face search tool that analyses facial features and scans the web to find matching profiles or related images. The tool will then display relevant results collected from multiple sources.

If the photo attached to the suspicious Instagram account turns out to be stolen, the safest
option is to avoid interacting with it.

Run a Cross-Platform Check

Suppose you are still unsure about the legitimacy of the possibly fake Instagram account. We
have another tactic for you to determine its nature and know if it is original or fake. You can
access other relevant social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Reddit. Specifically, if someone claims to be a seasoned professional, checking their LinkedIn profile for verification is a must.

The same is true for Facebook and YouTube if someone is claiming to be an influencer or
content creator. If you don’t find any reciprocating handles on other platforms, especially the
ones mentioned, it is a clue to stay away from it and report it.

Consider the Engagement Quality

The last thing you should do is go through the followers and following list of the suspicious
Instagram account. Additionally, review the account’s posts to see who is liking and commenting on them.

Once you know the prominent accounts that are engaging with the possibly fake account, go
through those accounts. If they look too generic or suspicious, you must think of blocking and
reporting the profile.

Conclusion

Spotting fake Instagram accounts is not as tricky as you may think. All you need to do is look for some potential red flags and use a few pro verification techniques, and you are good to go. Considering these verification tactics will help you steer clear of potential scams and identity theft attempts. So, follow the takeaways and browse social media without any worries!