Social media scams are everywhere, and cybercriminals are constantly looking for ways to get their victim's personal information. If you are an Instagram user, you might have noticed that a lot of strangers are tagging you in posts about free iPhones.
The post will say that you need to click on the link to claim the prize that you've won. This type of scam is not new, as it has resurfaced every couple of years together with the release of a new iPhone model, according to Hindustan Time Tech.
If you have been tagged in one of these posts, unfortunately, there is no free iPhone for you. If you click the link, you will be automatically redirected to a webpage where you will be asked to enter your personal information and your credit card number.
What Does the Instagram Scam Look Like?
The post will show you a picture of the latest iPhone, and you will see a message underneath congratulating you for your win. You will be instructed to click on a link that will ask you for your personal information.
Do not click the link on the post. According to CNET, scammers use phishing schemes to prey on the vulnerable, like those who are not tech-savvy.
There are a lot of legitimate opportunities online, but if you have not entered any contest at all, then it is unlikely that you will win anything.
Also, there is easy-to-access information about how the contest works, how you can enter, who is sponsoring the contest, and other important information for legitimate wins.
It is more difficult to follow a paper trail with social media scams. If you run a separate search for the user who tagged you, there is a possibility that nothing will come up at all.
The other red flags can include the photoshopped images of iPhones, several emojis on the post, misspellings and the urgent language used, according to The Sun.
You can ignore the tag, but there are other ways that you can tighten your Instagram security settings. Here's how you can protect yourself from this scheme.
Limit the Mentions in Your Comments
The best way to combat this scam is to lock down who can mention you in the comment section. To do this, open your Instagram account and tap your icon.
Go to the Settings and select Mentions. Choose to allow mentions from people that you follow. If you do not want to be tagged at all, just select "No One."
Limit Who Can Tag You in Instagram Pictures
One of the most common activities on social media is tagging other people in pictures. Fortunately, you can get more control by adjusting your app's settings.
To prevent this from happening, open your Instagram account and tap on the icon so you can open the Settings section. Choose "Tap Posts."
You can choose if you want people to tag you on pictures, if you want only those you follow to tag you on pictures, or if you do not want to be tagged at all. You can also manually approve the tags.
Instagram scams have been an issue on the platform for years. In 2020, Instagram scammers used stolen credit cards to sell half-priced holiday packages.
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Written by Sophie Webster
