Instagram hacked, fake winnings post, hacker demands £200 for login details. Beware of deceptive profile: https://www.instagram.com/briana_chavezss
Scam/Fraud Info:
My Instagram account fell victim to hacking, leading to a series of unauthorized activities. The hacker changed my password and, surprisingly, gained access to an old photo I had previously deleted from my phone. They cleverly utilized this photo as my lock screen, coupled with a fake Halifax bank notification suggesting that I had won £10k from a trading account. The elaborate ruse continued with a story post claiming the legitimacy of the winnings, accompanied by a second post explaining the details and a link to a fake trading account, urging people to invest.
The perpetrator operated under the profile https://www.instagram.com/briana_chavezss?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==, posing as a "Risk Management Specialist" and "Crypto Millionaire" promising financial success through crypto. Notably, they shared a link to a Bitcoin account, but upon closer inspection, it was a deceptive attempt using the domain bitcion.com instead of the legitimate bitcoin.com.
In my attempt to regain control of my account by resetting the password, I discovered that the hacker had changed the associated email, leaving me locked out of my Instagram account. Simultaneously, my email had also been compromised, although I managed to recover it. Unfortunately, the hacker had already changed and verified the Instagram email before I regained access to my Gmail account.
The scammer used the Gmail account mubashshara23441@gmail.com. Despite multiple attempts to contact Instagram for assistance, the automated system did not provide a resolution, so I reported the email to Google.
Further investigation revealed that my Instagram account had been accessed from an Apple iPhone located in London. It's worth noting that I use a OnePlus Android phone, indicating suspicious activity.
During this ordeal, I received messages on WhatsApp from the number +234 913 364 6980, associated with the name "Famousmoni," a Nigerian number. The scammer claimed, "I truly want to give it back, just let me know if you need it back," and promised to add back my email address to facilitate a password reset. However, they insisted on sending a confirmation code to my email before abruptly ceasing communication upon receiving the link.
Additionally, a friend informed me that the hacker had access to my account, evident from the 'seen' function in messages. Later, the hacker messaged me, stating, "[20/02, 22:38] Hacker: Hello [20/02, 22:39] Hacker: Sorry for not replying earlier [20/02, 22:40] Hacker: I just finished speaking to my company right now they said you should have to pay for it so they can send you the login details so you can get back into your Instagram account." They demanded a payment of £200 via PayPal, Cash App, Zelle, or an Amazon gift card, refusing a bank transfer to avoid traceability.
This incident sheds light on the elaborate tactics employed by scammers who exploit multiple fake emails, numbers, names, and VPNs, victimizing unsuspecting individuals on a daily basis.
Reports are submitted by people globally. If there is enough evidence, it's likely a scam. Celebrity impersonators are always considered scammers, often stealing money and resorting to blackmail if you've shared sensitive photos.
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