7 Ways To Spot and Avoid Fake Instagram Accounts

Have you noticed an increase in spam comments on your Instagram posts? These might look like “Hi, I have something to share with you” or “Comment on my post to receive $5000.”

Fake accounts have gone rampant on Instagram (and other social media platforms) in recent years. And the most worrying aspect is that these profiles may be fake, but the people creating them are very real. They use these profiles to spam social media users or, worse, to scam them.

Why Do People Create Fake Accounts?

Sometimes, the reason behind a fake account is benign. Someone may want to gain popularity or want to seem famous, even when they are not. They attempt this by creating photos and videos that are fake or edited to get likes and comments. Others do it for more menacing reasons, like trolling profiles anonymously. Sometimes, they post controversial content or laughing emojis underneath serious or sad posts to draw attention.

Other times, they create fake accounts to promote products and services that do not exist. As soon as someone pays them, they delete the account and disappear. Then there are the ones with malicious intent. They create fake accounts with the sole purpose of spreading malware or phishing links. These types of people also often use fake accounts to harass people online.

How To Recognize a Fake Account

If you find a suspicious comment on Facebook, you may click on the commenter’s profile to see their other posts. Likely, there would be no real photos and only one or two other posts. The same goes for fake accounts and comments on Instagram.

If you find a profile with zero or few posts or a profile that keeps adding irrelevant comments, it is probably a fake account. Fake accounts also have incomplete profile information and ridiculous usernames and tend to send out strange DMs.

Fake accounts typically have a high follower count but follow few others, if anyone. In contrast, posts from fake accounts will have a low comment and like rate. Another way to spot a fake account is to look at the profile picture. If the profile image is a stock photo of Britney Spears, but the account is about stocks and bonds, it is a massive red flag.

Also, if there are links in the bios or captions to weird websites or landing pages, it is likely a phishing attempt to steal information.

Fake accounts also have intermittent spikes in followers but not in engagement. Sometimes, they follow hundreds of accounts or post ten times per day but never vary their content. If you dig deeper into a fake account’s content history, you may find stolen posts, low-quality videos and images, or excessive hashtags.

If you find direct messages from suspicious accounts in your inbox, do not click on links or share any information. Instead, report anything that looks off directly to Instagram. The report option is under the fake profile, linked to the three-dot menu at the top of the screen.

7 Ways to Avoid Fake Accounts

1. 1. There are several ways to avoid becoming a victim of a scam on Instagram. The best way is to steer clear of fake accounts and not engage at all.

2. 2. Always check the profile information of any suspicious account that comments on your content. If you find anything confirming that the profile is fake, like weird profile pictures and inconsistent info, block and report it.

3. 3. Check the profile’s verification status. If there is no verification badge, the account is likely fake. Remember that not everyone has a verified account, but if there are other red flags, it is safe to assume the account is not real.

4. 4. Have a look at the account’s activity. If there are only one or two posts and zero engagement, report the profile just to be safe.

5. 5. Never click on any links, whether in a comment or a profile if you do not know the person behind the account. Fake accounts will likely include phishing links, which can cost you dearly if you click on them. The same goes for malware download links.

6. 6. Block all accounts that spam you daily. If you notice a specific comment or profile suddenly popping up below your posts, block the user to be safe.

7. 7. Always read up on the latest scams and fake account trends doing the rounds to keep your profile and your information safe.

Do Not Ignore Fake Accounts

You may think it’s easier to ignore fake accounts, but if you do that, it may harm your Instagram progress in the long run. The more fake accounts you leave to run rampant on your profile, the less trust your real followers will have in you. It will eventually damage your reputation and could even hit your bottom line if you sell products through Instagram.

Instead of ignoring fake accounts, do something proactive to weed them out. Analyze your existing followers to spot potential fake accounts. If there are a lot of inactive accounts among your followers, block them. The same goes for irrelevant accounts unless you know who created them. If you find nonsensical behavior around your posts, block the accounts responsible.

You do not have to manually go through each account, especially if you have thousands of followers. Use Instagram’s audit tools to do this for you. It will give you the percentage of potential fake accounts so you can block and report. Moreover, you can use an analytical tool to determine strange engagement rates and a demographic tool to identify ghost accounts. You can even automate removing and blocking fake accounts, saving time and eliminating stress.

Keep Your Account Safe At All Times

Protecting your Instagram account against fake profiles and comments is not a once-off activity. Keep growing your followers organically to attract more real followers. This also makes it easier to spot fake followers when they pop up. Keep auditing your following to remove any new fake accounts.

Also, inform your audience of a rise in fake followers so they keep their profiles safe. Doing this will ensure a safer experience for everyone, and keep the focus on genuine content and interaction on Instagram.