Online scammers are reportedly abusing the copyright system of Meta’s Instagram platform to hijack content creators’ accounts. Fraudsters are reporting fake copyright strikes or claims against popular Instagram pages, triggering sudden account suspensions. Once a content creator loses access to their account, the scammers are contacting them on Telegram and demanding a ransom to withdraw the strikes or claims.
Instagram scammers are demanding crypto ransoms after filing false copyright claims
The latest scheme of scammers on the Instagram app relies on utilizing the automated copyrighted content policies of Meta. According to a BBC report, the fraudsters are targeting active pages and are submitting false reports claiming the creator stole their content. This triggers an automatic suspension of the account from Instagram.
The threat actors then contact the victims directly, offering to retract the strikes if they pay a fee. In a recent case, a scammer demanded a huge sum of $900 from a targeted content creator, according to the BBC report. The source also suggests that similar strikes have been used against YouTube users too.
Several content creators on Instagram feel forced to pay because losing an account means losing their primary source of income. Olly, an Instagram user who runs the popular history page called Lost in Time History, recently fell victim to the latest scam on the platform. The user chose to pay a $50 ransom in crypto just to get his page back online quickly.
Meta’s slow appeals process leaves creators desperate for other quick solutions
It’s worth mentioning that several Instagram content creators claim that Meta has a very slow manual review process. The creators have reported that getting a human to look at a false strike can take several weeks. During the waiting period, they can’t post content or have conversations with their followers, which heavily damages their business. Also, waiting for official support is rarely an option for users who rely on Instagram to earn a living.
This is why many victims of the latest Instagram scam are choosing to pay the ransom to restore their accounts, instead of waiting for the platform to act. Following the recent extortion reports, the social tech firm stated that it plans to add additional protection for its users. The company has promised to investigate the issue and improve how it handles these copyright appeals.
The post Scammers Blackmail Instagram Creators With Fake Copyright Strikes appeared first on Android Headlines.
​Â
