Instagram users beware: Scammers are using fake copyright claims to suspend accounts and demand ransom

Instagram users are being targeted by a new scam. Scammers are reportedly filing false copyright claims against popular pages, which can lead to the accounts being suspended. Once the account’s owner loses access, the scammers contact them and demand money to remove the claims. The scam is reportedly targeting creators who depend on Instagram for their income. According to a report by BBC, one creator was asked to pay $900 to get an account back. In another case, a creator paid $50 in cryptocurrency after being locked out of the account.

How the Instagram copyright scam works

The scam takes advantage of Meta’s automated copyright enforcement system. Fraudsters identify active Instagram pages and submit reports claiming that the creators have used their copyrighted content without permission.

These reports can trigger action against the targeted account. In some cases, the account may be suspended before a proper manual review takes place.

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The scammers then approach the account owner. They claim they can withdraw the copyright complaints if the victim pays a ransom. Telegram is reportedly being used to communicate with some victims.

The BBC report highlights the case of Olly, who runs the popular history page Lost in Time History. After his account was targeted, he reportedly paid $50 in cryptocurrency to get his page back online.

For many creators, losing access to an Instagram account can have serious financial consequences. Their pages may be their main source of income. A suspension can stop them from posting, responding to followers and running their businesses.

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Creators have also complained about Meta’s manual review process. Some say it can take weeks for a human reviewer to examine a disputed copyright claim. 

Because of this delay, some victims may feel pressured to pay the scammers rather than wait for Meta to resolve the issue.

The problem may not be limited to Instagram. Similar fake copyright claims have reportedly been used to target creators on YouTube as well.