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Diplomat Times(International Desk) –

Want to Get Verified on Instagram/Facebook ? Don’t Fall For These 3 Verification Scams

Are you getting suspicious messages offering a blue check on Instagram? This article will protect you from the most common verification scams.

Whether you’re a thought leader, influencer or entrepreneur, you probably have “get verified on Instagram” on your to-do list. And you should. The coveted blue check mark is valuable for any business leader, but especially for those whose work relies on having a positive public persona.

Jon Clay, vice president of threat intelligence at Trend Micro, said the IT security company has seen verification scams in roughly 70 countries. “It’s just a lure that gives the criminals an opportunity to target these victims,” Clay said. 

A social media user, who asked to remain anonymous out of fear of retaliation, told CNET that Ceylan presented a convincing pitch when he said he could get the person’s Instagram account verified. At his request, the person provided him with a photo while holding an ID (though its number was obscured). After that, Ceylan appeared to use the photo to get the person’s social media accounts taken down for impersonation.

Not only does the check mark put you in an elite group — less than 5% of Instagram accounts are granted a verified status — but it also protects you from imposters hijacking your online presence. Which of the dozens of Ryan Reynolds’ Instagram accounts is the real one? The one with the blue check mark.
So, how do you get verified on Instagram? There are those who would tell you that the process is easy and requires only a little bit of time, a few forms and some money. Don’t believe them. Those people are scammers who are trying to get access to your private information or take your money.

As Instagram explains on its website, verification is something that is offered to those who “represent a well-known, highly searched-for person, brand or entity.” If that does not describe you or your brand, you should be suspicious of anyone who offers you an easy path to getting a blue check mark.

Here are three common Instagram verification scams you should be careful to avoid.

Dipanjan Das, a security researcher at UC Santa Barbara who conducted an exhaustive study on NFT frauds, says a verification badge adds a stamp of authenticity, and a scammer with a verified Twitter profile can attract much stronger attention and have a higher impact. And by targeting the multi-billion-dollar NFT ecosystem, both hackers and buyers or scammers can recoup their costs in a few tweets before account owners initiate the recovery process. 

1. Don’t trust an invitation to apply
2. Don’t trust a message saying that you have been pre-approved
3. Don’t trust a promise to deliver verification for a fee