Instagram Lottery Winner Scam: How It Works
Did anyone just contact you about an Instagram lottery? You are not alone. Instagram has over 850 million active users every month (of which over 500 million daily!) so there is no surprise that scammers came into the game to find a fool or two. Hopefully, you’re not one of them.
In this article, you’ll learn how the scam works and how to easily identify if the profile of the person you’re talking to on Instagram is fake. Let’s dive right into it. How does the scam work? Essentially, it has the same base as the Facebook Lottery Scam:
Watch the video below to see in action the scam exposed:
Criminals create fake profiles using stolen pictures from the Internet – like the one above – and claim to be Instagram employees. They keep following Instagram users until they are followed back. Once that happens, they contact the new ‘connection’ and start a conversation that goes like this:
“My name is Janet Howard, Claim Agent Officer at Instagram in Menlo, California. I would like to inform you that your name was selected among the 20 lucky Instagram winners who won the sum of $600,000.00 on the Instagram online lottery international draw. This is 100% real and legit. You can also check this link to find the best history of the Instagram past winners.” (she sends you a link to a page with really bad Photoshopped images featuring winners of some sort, but with the name ‘Instagram’ added).
The text could differ from one scammer to another, along with their names. ‘Janet Howard’ is just the last scammer approaching Instagram users with the lottery bait. She uses the username howardjanet111, but rest assured that you could be contacted by many others.
So, what happens to those who believe they actually won the Instagram lottery?
Suggested read: 5 Instagram Scams Everyone Should Be Aware Of
Those who ask how they can get in the possession of the money are required to provide personal information, including address.
Then she will proceed by saying your cheque will be sent to them via FedEx. However “FedEx will contact you to pay a little fee, in order to deliver the cheque”, she will say. That’s where the scam occurs. As you can imagine, a fake FedEx employee will contact the victims to ask for that fee.
Alternatively, the scammer could say that the small charge is just a ‘processing fee’ of 3% of the winnings. In this case, the victims are required to pay via Western Union.
Recommended read: Facebook Customer Service Phone Number Scam
How To Find Out If an Instagram Profile Is Fake
Here is some good news. Watch the video below to see how you can easily identify if the profile contacting you on Instagram or Facebook is a fake).
Instagram Lottery Scam: How To Avoid
According to stats, Instagram will reach the 1 billion users mark by 2024, so rest assured various scams will continue to hit the users. You need to know how to avoid them.
There is no Instagram lottery nor will ever be one. When someone new on Instagram contacts you asking for money ‘to make money’, you should automatically ignore and report him. There are many naive victims out there, just don’t be one of them.
On the same token, beware of anyone claiming to be the latest “Power Ball winner Instagram user”. The scammer might pretend to give away part of the earnings – as exposed in the Lottery winner donation scam.
Instagram Lottery Scam: How To Report
Share this article about common Instagram scams on social media and warn your friends about it. Post in the Comments section below the name of the Instagram scammer contacting you in regards to the lottery win.
Last but not least, you can also officially report the scammers directly to Instagram or the Federal Trade Commission using the links below:
Report Scammers to Instagram HERE
How To Protect Yourself More
If you want to be the first to find out the most notorious scams every week, feel free to subscribe to the Scam Detector newsletter here. You’ll receive periodical emails and we promise not to spam. Last but not least, use the Comments section below to expose other scammers.
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I was told that I won 100000000 and a truck from Instagram giveaway randomly pick through computer and that I would have to send $550 to FedEx to claim my prize it went as far as sendind me text messages for me to get it done and they would not let my lawyer take care of it for me said it would have to be me and only me LOL
Her name is Samantha Amelia and she was very convincing, at first. Like a sucker I paid the delivery company $180 to receive my package, which turned into $1200 the next day when my package was confiscated by customs. No, I did not give them anymore.
HI GUYS! IS THIS TRUE OR FAKE?
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
You are one of the lucky winner of The Giveaway announced you as one of the 50 lucky winners of the ongoing The Giveaway lottery Held this month, support for covid19. All 50 lucky winning were randomly selected from a batch of $10,000 each as part of our international promotions programe.
We are using this priviledge, so you can support your family due to pandemic covid19. I am delighted to inform you that your account on Instagram was luckily selected among the 50 lucky winners who won the sum of $10,000.00 Us Dollars
Kindly send us a message:+17626752251.
The Giveaway online promo that was conducted by the The Giveaway officials, Firstly get your cell phone download with whatsapp, message us with this number : +17626752251
I want you to know that your winning prize is 100% real and legit and the United states FBI and NBI is aware of the winnings.
PLEASE REPLY GUYS I NEED ANSWERS
I got the same chat in Ig today. What did you do about this
A girl on instagram has just got in touch with me saying I’ve been chosen by Facebook and instagram and a miss Sherry Sandberg coo cheif officer that I have won lots of money and a car this I’m told by your claiming officer rose John is this a scam please can you help
Beware of one guy Brian Nickell, claiming is a Power ball winner instagram user. argh… stay away!
I was scammed on Instagram
I was contacted by Dave Johnson or claimed to be on IG. It is a fake
Beware of an user with the name Lerynee West, scammer! Username is Leryneewestgiveaway and has fake pics with people getting money. She claims to giveaway $20,000. The bio says: "I’m Lerynee West the Powerball winner of $343,900,000 million and I’m giving out $20,000 to my first 500 followers to support our economy in covid-19.". Plus a fake press release. Then they want name, address, etc.
I am being contacted by agentbrenda Brenda Owens on Instagram by instagram lottery promo saying I was one of 50 lucky winners winning $500,000 being sent by FedEx just have to pay a small fee…
Someone by the name Angie Verona is just contacted me telling me this. I ask her what color of panties she is wearing and if they were sexy. LMAO, no responses back. Dirty bitches!!
Beware of a David Johnson, apparently a Instagram Powerball lottery!! Bleah.
I was contacted by barton.christiana2
I am being scammed rite now by Instagram lottery’s promotion by bowles.erskine.inc@gmail.com he is tell me I’ve won 600,000,00 and I’ve got to pay$400 to get it sent to me
This guy on insta is scamming people manuelfranco_1998 claiming to be a power ball winner don’t fall for it people as soon as I said I don’t have a job he stoped cause I have no money to steal !
I was contacted by talene_cathy. Reported her on instagram.
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByidEmBABOt/
Michellesmith32162 tried this bs
Michelle mutton. Smdh
Rosebrian99 was trying to say I won an instagram lottery and if I was ready to receive my $600,000.
Agentbrian.nickell Is attempting to scam saying you win the "instagram lottery" with three million dollars.
Hello.
I’m one of the Instagram users.A person in Instagram has sent me a message and says that you are winning an Intagam lottery.He dialed my WhatsApp app and talked to me.This person’s Page Instagram profile is as follows:
(Page title:catersteven4
name: eric villarreal
bio:im canter by name, im 40 years old i am a married woman live in chicago and i work for instagram social network inc….)
Please make sure that this is a fraud.
I am waiting for your message.
Thanks.