Instagram users are being targeted by a new scam. This time, the scam involves fake copyright claims, where scammers exploit an Instagram policy to ask for money. Meta has its automated copyright enforcement system, and scammers have been taking advantage of it. First, they identify active pages and then report that those pages have used their content without permission. Most of the time, these complaints trigger an instant account suspension without any verification.
Once the suspension is triggered, scammers contact the account owner and demand money to withdraw the copyright claim and unblock the account. BBC highlighted a case of Olly, a popular creator who runs the page Lost in Time History. Once his account was blocked, he paid USD 50 in cryptocurrency to get his page back online.
Generally, these scams are targeted at people who generate their earnings from Instagram. If their pages get suspended, it becomes a critical problem for them, and that’s what the scammers are taking advantage of. Losing an account suddenly can make users panic. Scammers count on that panic. Paying them, however, does not guarantee that the account will return.
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The first thing to keep in mind is not to pay anyone who claims they can fix your Instagram account for money. Check the warning inside Instagram and then use Meta’s official appeal options if you believe the claim is false.
Users should save screenshots of the warning and any messages they receive. They should not click strange links or share passwords, login codes, or other account details. Genuine copyright issues should be handled through Instagram’s own support system.
A sudden copyright warning can be scary, especially for people who rely on Instagram every day. Users should avoid quick payments and follow official recovery steps. A little caution can stop a fake claim from becoming an expensive scam.