Here is how cloned influencer competition scams work on Instagram

Whether it’s start-up companies begging for engagement, established brands looking to maintain a loyal audience, or even influencers giving away cash or designer clothes, sites like Instagram are full of giveaways, promotions and competitions.

Inevitably that hasn’t gone unnoticed by the cyber criminals, who have been cashing in on Instagram competitions by setting up fake profiles impersonating well known influencers and brands in order to scam victims.

How does the cloned influencer scam work?

Scammers will create social media accounts that look like the accounts of genuine influencers or brands. The scammers will then post promotions and competitions from those accounts (often to mimic genuine promotions frequently held by those influencers) that will typically ask followers to like and comment on the post.

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Those familiar with our site will already see the resemblance these scams have to fake Facebook competitions that claim celebrities like The Rock or Ellen are giving away cash to anyone who likes and shares a Facebook post.

The scammer will then – posing as the influencer or brand – contact those who engage with the competition post and claim they have won. However, the victim is instructed to pay a “shipping fee” (may be called something else) in order to receive their much higher-valued prize.

The promise of receiving a high value prize for paying a much smaller shipping fee effectively makes this scam a type of advance fee fraud.

Of course there is no prize or reward since the competition is just as fake as the Instagram that posted it. And the crooks are looking for you to hand over your payment information.

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Avoiding these scams.

Always keep an eye on competitions and promotions and make sure they are posted by the real brand or influencer. Many popular brands and influencers will have the Instagram blue tick by their name to show they are the legitimate channel.

But most importantly, never pay any money to receive a prize or high value reward. This is the hallmark of advance fee fraud scams. No legitimate promotion or competition will require you to pay any type of fee to get your reward or prize.

And finally remember, if it appears too good to be true, it probably is.