Instagram DM scams come in three main forms: fake brand collaborations asking for personal info, crypto investment schemes from 'successful' traders, and account verification scams claiming your account violated policies.
About this scam type: Instagram messages offering brand deals, prizes, or crypto investments
ScamRadar verdict: likely-scam · Risk score: 86/100
DM from @meta_verify_official: Your Instagram account has been reported for copyright infringement. To prevent permanent deletion within 24 hours, verify ownership here: https://meta-account-help.support/verify
Meta does not warn you about copyright by DM, never uses lookalike domains, and never gives 24-hour deletion deadlines. The blue checkmark on the impersonator profile is fake too — paid Meta Verified does not give scammers official authority.
If you logged into the fake page, change your Instagram password immediately at instagram.com/accounts/password/change (not from the link), enable two-factor authentication under Settings > Security, log out of all sessions, and review your linked email and phone for any unauthorized changes. Check Settings > Account > Personal information to ensure your recovery email and phone weren't replaced. If you also linked your Facebook account, change that password too — Meta accounts share access. If your account was already taken over, follow Instagram's hacked account recovery flow at instagram.com/hacked. If you provided card details for any 'verification fee,' contact your card issuer.
Real Instagram and Meta communication never comes by DM from accounts with hyphenated handles like meta_verify or instagram_help. All real account warnings appear inside the Instagram app under Settings > Security > Emails from Instagram — every legitimate message is mirrored there. If a DM warning is not in that inbox, it's fake. Real Meta domains end in instagram.com, facebook.com, meta.com, or fb.com only. The blue verification checkmark on Instagram is now a paid subscription (Meta Verified), so it does not prove the account is officially Meta.
Real Instagram account warnings appear in the app under Settings > Security > Emails from Instagram, not as DMs from random accounts. If a warning is not in that inbox, it's a scam.
The blue checkmark is now a paid subscription (Meta Verified) that anyone can buy after submitting ID. It does not prove the account is officially affiliated with Meta. Always check the actual handle and the official 'Emails from Instagram' inbox.
Change your Instagram password from instagram.com directly, enable two-factor authentication, log out of all sessions in Settings > Security > Login Activity, and check your linked email and phone for unauthorized changes.
Scammers DM you claiming you've been reported for copyright infringement and your account will be deleted in 24 hours unless you verify ownership through their link. The link goes to a phishing page that steals your login. Real copyright reports go through Instagram's internal Help Center, not by DM.
Report the account in-app: tap the username, tap the three dots, then Report > Report Account. Block the user. File at reportfraud.ftc.gov for any financial loss.
Last reviewed: 2026-06-24 by the ScamRadar editorial team. We update this page when scammer tactics change or when official agencies issue new guidance.
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