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Instagram Scams Aimed at Teens

The scams teens run into on Instagram range from fake online stores and giveaways to hacked friends asking for money and fake profiles built for sextortion. Social media is where many scams start: 1 in 4 people who reported losing money to fraud since 2021 said it began on social media.

By the CITA Editorial TeamUpdated October 5, 20264 min read

Teens and young adults are hit hardest. In early 2023, social media was where the scam started in 47% of fraud loss reports from people ages 18 and 19.[1]

Fast Facts About Instagram Scams

  • Reported losses to scams that started on social media reached $2.7 billion from 2021 to mid-2023, more than any other way scammers make contact.[1]
  • The most common social media fraud reports, 44% in early 2023, came from people trying to buy something advertised to them, most often through an ad on Facebook or Instagram.[1]
  • Instagram and Snapchat were the most common first-contact apps in financial sextortion cases.[2]
  • In July 2024, Meta removed about 63,000 Instagram accounts in Nigeria that were attempting financial sextortion.[3]
  • Instagram says it will never send direct messages about your account in the Instagram app.[4]

If someone is threatening to share a picture of your teen

The Instagram Scams Teens See Most

Fake Online Stores

Ads for clothes, sneakers or electronics at prices that seem too good, from shops that never deliver. Online shopping scams were the most commonly reported social media fraud in early 2023, and most began with an ad on Facebook or Instagram.[1]

Fake Giveaways and Prizes

A message says your teen won something but must pay a fee or share personal information to claim it. Instagram warns about people asking for advance fees to receive a prize or other winnings.[4]

Hacked Friends

A message from a friend’s real account asks for money, a gift card or a login code. Scammers break into accounts and use them to con the owner’s friends.[1] Instagram lists people claiming to be a friend in an emergency as a common scam.[4]

“Your Account Will Be Deleted” Messages

Urgent messages claiming something is wrong with the account, with a link to log in. Instagram says it will never send direct messages about your account in the app, and official emails from the last 14 days can be checked in Instagram Settings.[4]

Money Flipping and Investment Pitches

Accounts that promise to turn a little money into a lot, often in cryptocurrency. Fake investment pitches cause the biggest losses of any social media scam.[1]

Fake Romance

A stranger sends a friend request, showers your teen with attention, then asks for money. Half of people who lost money to an online romance scam in early 2023 said it began on Facebook, Instagram or Snapchat.[1]

Sextortion

A profile that looks like a teen flirts, asks for a photo, then threatens to share it unless your teen pays. Most of these accounts are fake.[3][2] The financial sextortion guide explains how to talk with your teen about it.

Red Flags to Teach Your Teen

Instagram suggests three simple rules: slow down, check the details, and don’t send money or information under pressure.[4] Its warning signs include:[4]

  • People you don’t know, or famous people, asking for money
  • Fees you have to pay before receiving a prize or loan
  • Someone claiming to be a friend or relative in an emergency
  • Requests to move the conversation off Instagram
  • Someone who wants a romantic connection quickly, then asks for money
  • Urgent messages saying something is wrong with your account
  • Accounts for big brands or public figures that aren’t verified

Settings That Help

The FTC suggests limiting who can see your posts and personal information on social media.[1] For teens, that means a private account, limits on who can send messages, and two-factor authentication to stop account takeovers. The Instagram guide for parents walks through the settings.

If Your Teen Got Scammed

  1. Stop contact and don’t send anything more.
  2. Report the account to Instagram.[4]
  3. Secure the account if it was hacked: change the password and turn on two-factor authentication.
  4. If a gift card was used, contact the gift card company right away.[5]
  5. Report the scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.[5]
  6. If it involves sexual images, report it to NCMEC’s CyberTipline.[6]

Take the 2-minute Online Safety Check

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common Instagram scams?

Fake online stores, fake giveaways, hacked friends asking for money, phishing messages about your account, investment and money-flipping pitches, romance scams, and sextortion.[1][4]

Can you get scammed on Instagram by a friend?

Yes, if the friend’s account was hacked. Scammers use stolen accounts to ask the owner’s friends for money or codes.[1]

Does Instagram message you about your account?

Not by direct message. Instagram says it never sends DMs about your account in the app; official emails from the last 14 days appear in your settings.[4]

What should my teen do if they got scammed on Instagram?

Stop contact, report the account, secure their login, and report the scam to the FTC. If sexual images are involved, report it to NCMEC’s CyberTipline.[4][5][6]

Sources

  1. Federal Trade Commission. (2023, October). Social Media: A Golden Goose for Scammers (Data Spotlight).
  2. Thorn & National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. (2024, June 24). Trends in Financial Sextortion: An Investigation of Sextortion Reports in NCMEC CyberTipline Data.
  3. Meta. (2024, July 24). Combating Financial Sextortion Scams From Nigeria.
  4. Instagram Help Center. (n.d.). Avoid Getting Scammed on Instagram. Accessed October 4, 2026.
  5. Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Advice. (n.d.). Avoiding and Reporting Gift Card Scams.
  6. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. (n.d.). CyberTipline.
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