According to the FTC, Instagram accounted for 24% of online shopping scams originating on social media. The platform also accounted for 30% of investment scams — the most of any social media network. Instagram is facing an epidemic of online scams, and the problem shows no signs of slowing down. In particular, blackmail scams can be extremely harmful to a victim’s finances and mental health. However, unlike many other scams, the outcome of blackmail largely depends on how the victim responds. There are steps you can take to stop blackmail on Instagram and protect yourself from future attacks. Continue reading to learn how to deal with Instagram blackmail.
Types of Instagram Scams
Instagram is full of scammers who use a variety of sophisticated tactics to target users. If you use Instagram, it’s important that you understand the different traps to look out for. With awareness and constant due diligence, you can avoid falling for harmful traps or enticing schemes. Here are the main scams to look out for on Instagram.
- Hacked account blackmail. Hackers commonly use phishing tactics to gain access to another user’s Instagram account. They will trick targets into entering their login credentials on a malicious website or clicking on a harmful link.
- Investment scams. Scammers draw in victims by presenting investment opportunities with absurdly high ROI. They will describe it as a rare opportunity that can change your life. However, the scammer actually wants your initial investment so they can take it and disappear. Investment scams are also extremely popular with cryptocurrency.
- Romance scams. Often targeting those desperate for connection, cybercriminals will catfish people posing as attractive individuals. They will lure victims into a fake romantic relationship. Once there is enough trust, the scammer will then request money for urgent situations. They may claim to need money for hospital bills, a flight to visit, or even to pay rent.
- The goal for these scammers is to use the victim’s explicit images for blackmail. Similar to romance scams, sextortionists lure victims into a sexually intimate relationship. They then suggest trading explicit images or videos. It’s common for sextortionists to use catfishing tactics on Instagram to trick people into sending them their nudes.
- Commerce scams. Scammers tend to exploit Instagram’s advertising and online shopping features. They will sell products that don’t actually exist and often buy ads on platforms like Instagram to promote them.
- Fake brand collaboration. This occurs when influencers and organizations are approached with brand partnerships that appear to be real. The scammers will use the potential partnership to pressure the victim into sending a payment or sharing private info.
Do Instagram Blackmailers Follow Through?
If you are being blackmailed on Instagram, the threats may heavily disturb you. There are many factors that contribute to how likely blackmailers will follow through. However, the most important factor is the criminal’s motivation.
Cybercriminals are largely financially motivated. They are after your money and send the same threats to hundreds of victims simultaneously. Blackmailers won’t follow through with every potential victim. However, they want their threats to be convincing and will sometimes follow through to pressure certain victims into compliance.
Blackmailers Exploit Personal Information
Another important factor is how much information the perpetrator has on the victim. Blackmailers will exploit any details they can gather on the victim. They often create fake accounts to trick victims into revealing personal information.
Cybercriminals also leverage open-source intelligence, scanning social media and online records to find out more about the victim’s life. Co-workers, family, and friends are all open season for blackmailers to use in their threats. The less info blackmailers have on you, the weaker their power becomes.
Retaliatory Exposure
Cybercriminals are unpredictable. They can operate from anywhere in the world, under any conditions. This is why victims of blackmail need to approach the situation with extreme caution. A victim’s response often plays a major role in whether or not the blackmailer follows through on their threats. In many cases, confronting the perpetrator directly can backfire, prompting them to retaliate by exposing private information.
What to Do If You Are Being Blackmailed on Instagram
As we previously mentioned, how you respond to threats of blackmail is extremely important. You want to minimize the risk of exposure while also taking steps to stop the blackmail on Instagram. When it comes to how to deal with Instagram blackmail, the first step is always to stay calm. Avoid panicking and making decisions with haste. Instead, try to think through your options and turn to expert resources for guidance. Here are more steps to take if you want to stop blackmail on Instagram.
Do Not Give in to the Demands
If you are being blackmailed on Instagram, you should never give in to their demands. Don’t pay them or send explicit content. Complying with a blackmailer in any way communicates that you are susceptible to their threats. This makes you a viable target in the future or whenever they feel like it. You also can’t trust the word of a criminal. They may promise you that they will delete whatever leverage they have off their device. However, this is a bluff to trick you into compliance.
Preserve the Evidence
Blackmail is illegal in the U.S., but you need evidence of the crime to take legal action. When you are being blackmailed on Instagram, you need to immediately save the evidence. Take screenshots of the threatening messages and the contextual conversation around them. You should also take screenshots of the profiles involved and anything else that is relevant to the crime.
Maintain a Line of Communication
You should keep communication with your blackmailer to a minimum. However, keeping the line of communication open preserves evidence for experts to look through. Furthermore, many victims feel tempted to block their blackmailer immediately. However, blocking or ignoring the perpetrator can backfire. The blackmailer may feel like you aren’t taking them seriously and may make good on their threat in retaliation.
Blackmailers use urgent deadlines to apply more pressure on potential victims. However, delay tactics are a method that people can use to buy more time. It’s when victims use convincing excuses to postpone deadlines. They use the extra time to enlist the help of cybercrime experts to stop the blackmail on Instagram. Excuses like “I’m waiting for my next payday” or “I’m gathering the funds from family” can be effective.
Notify the Platform If You Are Being Blackmailed on Instagram
Instagram allows users to notify the platform about instances of blackmail. Users can report specific messages, profiles, or posts for “Bullying and Harassment”. For sextortion, there’s an option under “Nudity and Sexual Activity”.
How to Deal with Instagram Blackmail with the Assistance of Law Enforcement
Your local law enforcement is a valuable resource if you are being blackmailed on Instagram. They can assist you in filing a complaint that officially records the crime. Complaints are commonly referenced in future legal processes and court proceedings. The local police also understand how to stop blackmail on Instagram. Officers can perform an investigation to unmask and locate the perpetrator responsible for the online blackmail.
However, local law enforcement has limitations in their authority. For one, they can’t pursue anonymous criminals, and many online scammers conceal their identity. Another drawback is that after cybercriminals are identified, they need to be within the locality of the police.
That’s why we also recommend notifying the FBI through the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). The IC3 is a national center for cybercrimes and federal agents use it to discover cases to investigate. It also tracks cybercrime trends across the nation.
Work with Cybersecurity Firms to Stop Blackmail on Instagram
Law enforcement agencies face heavy caseloads that can delay their response to blackmail victims. On the other hand, many private cybersecurity firms can step in immediately to stop blackmail on Instagram at any time. They may not be able to prosecute perpetrators, but they can gather digital evidence that provides more legal options.
Digital forensic experts specialize in tracing online footprints, including those of anonymous cybercriminals. They can also detect and work to remove non-consensual sharing of a victim’s private information. Private cybersecurity firms are an effective resource to stop blackmail on Instagram.
If you are being blackmailed on Instagram, contact Cyber Investigation Inc. Our experts have a vast amount of experience assisting victims of blackmail. We also understand how to use digital forensics to stop blackmail on Instagram. Reach out to our Instagram Blackmail Helpline today.
