Someone I know had their Instagram account stolen by a scammer.
What is unusual to me is not the scam in itself, but the fact they went as far as gaining access to real people’s accounts and pose as them to lure their friends and followers into it. They even gained the account owner’s trust enough to make them record themselves saying stuff.
Their account started posting stories of screenshots of a conversation with an other Instagram account (which was also probably stolen). They were showing what to me seemed to be a money flipping scam by texting each other and posing as the actual account owners.
After I messaged the account, someone (who posed as the owner) messaged me back asking me if I wanted to make fast money with a crypto investment scheme and was basically telling me to make a “Shakepay” account, put money into it, buy BTC and send it to their wallet. They told me they would take a small commission and send me somewhere around three times my money back after 6 hours, magic. They event sent me a video recording of the real account owner saying “it actually works” to drive in the credibility.
I made them click on a “Grabify” link by playing stupid and asking for some help and I traced back the two accounts who have still not been recovered by the real owners. The person who’s account was stolen is now changing passwords, asking IG’s help and doing as much as possible to get the account back.
Hope it raises awareness and helps a bit.
IG ACCOUNTS.
Account 1.
Account 2.
GRABIFY RESULT.
A FEW POSTED SCREENSHOTS. In french.
