Instagram ad scam alert: How to stay safe with these 5 vital tips

tech.hindustantimes.com:

Instagram is one of the most exciting social media destinations for people across the world. However, it is also the place where even one click can lead users to lose huge amounts of money and data. So, if you want to protect yourself and the ones you love, just check out how to do so. And, as a warning, read the case of this poor woman who lost a huge amount.

Notably, scammers have been capitalizing on people's desire to earn extra income through part-time jobs. Exploiting this trend, they lure victims with promises of easy money. They often deposit small sums in victims' accounts to gain trust, only to swindle them out of large amounts of money thereafter. One such victim, a software professional from Manguluru, fell prey to this scheme after clicking on an Instagram ad. Here's her story and how to protect yourself from similar scams.

A software professional from Manguluru found herself in a nightmare scenario after responding to an enticing Instagram ad promising easy earnings. The ad simply stated, "You can earn," prompting her to express interest by messaging on the provided WhatsApp number: 9899183689. She was then directed to connect with '@khannika9912' on Telegram.

After downloading the app, she engaged with '@khannika9912,' who promised her a 30% return on her investment. To demonstrate authenticity, the victim initially sent ₹7,000 via Google Pay to a provided UPI ID. As promised, she received ₹9,100 in her account, which bolstered her trust in the scammer. Consequently, she was convinced to invest a more substantial sum.

Trusting the scammer, the woman transferred ₹20,000 to the same UPI ID. However, she was informed that the account was blocked, resulting in no funds received notification. For some reason, she