Intro insta is free 
It's a great platform for showcasing images and now also video 
Pros: Superb way of discovering new creatives 
Great way of meeting fellow photographers 
Powerful tool to get new business, sales of images and building a brand 
 
Cons: has moved to compete with tikok thru videos
Copying pasting videos from TikTok platform
Algorithm  seems to be changing faster than the weather 
 
Now to the scary part 
Subject to hacking of accounts 
Identity theft
IP Theft 
How : hackers seem to take control of users accounts by sending a message to all of their followers and here are some of the ways 
Need help to get account back 
They have made money on crypto and you can too 
Been accepted as an ambassador or similar 
 
This message can go to all your followers and they also post stories and actual posts about the same 
 
If you also view a story they will then message you also as you are flagged as active 
 
Seems to be a real person sending the messages and not a bot
Have been having conversions with followers 
Have also told users who setup a new account and contacted to to try and get your account back .. hahaha etc 
They fool followers into thinking that it’s the real person who needs help 
They have access to all your previous conversations on the Platform so be careful what messages you send on insta as it is all there 
 
Asks them to either click a link or send a screenshot of some sort 
 
This is believed to be used as a way to get around two step authentication ( how I don’t quite know )
 
Once they have access to your account they then start sharing actually images you have posted , even been known to post personal / family images to increase chance of audience thinking it’s actually the real person and these images again contain that they made money on crypto 
 
You audience are now the target and they want to catch them out and start the web of expansion of this hack 
 
Insta can be linked to your commercial business , website or store so this has the potential to also be compromised 
 
They have been known to send you a WhatsApp message demanding money to give your account back ( some have paid as it’s their business )
 
Years to build up a following now gone as you can effectively say goodbye to your insta account 
 
Why?
Insta are impossible to contact 
You deal with AI not a real person 
Even with two factor auth in place it’s makes no difference 
It’s also been known to be that if you don’t have a proper photo of yourself as a profile then there is less chance but there is little chance in the first place 
Fill in online questionnaire and insta come  back with a reply that there is nothing unusual on this  account 
 
Cannot report it as a hacked account 
Your Facebook is still active even tho both platforms are owned by meta .. why ?
Why hasn’t insta recognized that this issue is so widespread 
People will stop using the platform 
You can make a new account and tell purple you are hacked but with no followers who is going to see it ?
 
What can you do ?
Pay attention , they feed on people clicking without thinking ?
Don’t click on links that your gut tells you could be sus
Enable two factor authentication 
If you want to keep your following then create your own mailing list where you have control 
Find another platform to use 
Or don’t and continue to use Instagram for what it is intended to be ! A free social platform 
 
But also be aware that these scammers are also targeting youtube in the form of replies from creators ( fake profiles with a link )

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