{"id":70089,"date":"2022-02-25T07:34:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-25T08:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.easypromosapp.com\/blog\/prevent-phishing-in-your-instagram-giveaways\/"},"modified":"2025-03-07T10:21:16","modified_gmt":"2025-03-07T09:21:16","slug":"prevent-phishing-in-instagram-giveaways","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.easypromosapp.com\/blog\/en\/prevent-phishing-in-instagram-giveaways\/","title":{"rendered":"Phishing in Instagram Giveaways: 3 Measures to Protect your Brand\u2019s Account"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Illegal activities that take advantage of the reach and visibility that social networks giveaways get have been around for years. Although in the past they mostly aimed at getting followers, most recently frauds involving phishing have been detected. Phishing consists of the theft of participants\u2019 data or taking control of their accounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


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How does phishing work in an Instagram giveaway?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We have observed that the most common way of doing this is through a fake brand account<\/strong>. When the real brand organizes a giveaway, the wrongdoer sets up a fake account that looks like the original. Afterward, they use this fake account to contact the participants that have commented on the post. They will often tell the participants that they have won the prize. Many times the promotion hasn\u2019t even finished when they ask participants to submit their personal details so they can receive the prize. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the following example, we can see how a brand has detected that some fake accounts are trying to gather personal and bank details of the users participating in the brand\u2019s giveaway<\/strong>. Commonly, the fake account contacts the users by replying to their comment. Also by following them and sending them a private message. This message usually contains an outgoing link that leads to a registry form. It is then that the users share their personal and bank details, leaving them at the mercy of the scammers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Alert<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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How can a brand protect itself from this wrongdoing and prevent damage to its reputation and the relationship with its audience? Here are 3 measures that you can implement to your business account on Instagram that will help your followers not fall for the trap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


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Verify your brand’s Instagram account<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Followers are becoming increasingly aware that there might be fake brand accounts trying to steal their data. You can help your followers by making sure they are following the real account by going through Instagram\u2019s verification process<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you probably already know, verified Instagram accounts display a blue tick icon next to the brand\u2019s name. In the Settings>Account section you will find the option to request the verification of your brand\u2019s account. Once there, you will have to fill out the form that Instagram provides and upload a file that proves the existence of the brand. After sending this information, Instagram will review your request within 30 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here you can see two verified accounts of brands on Instagram<\/strong> that usually organize giveaways for the followers that comment on their posts. In the following examples, you can notice that this is a common and very recommendable characteristic for any brand with a presence on Instagram<\/strong>. Although it is true that in the past Instagram only made verification available to brands and influencers with a high volume of followers, nowadays, any brand can request it.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Avoid<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Brands used to include the word \u201cofficial\u201d in their name to show their followers that the account was the real thing, but that fell short of offering enough credibility. In this example of fraud, the official account of the Spanish influencer Maria Pombo was hijacked by a fake account<\/a> that added \u201cofficial\u201d to its name, the same as in the real account. Without an external validation associated with Instagram, it is impossible to determine the authenticity of an account.

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Clearly state in your giveaway post how the winners will be notified and contacted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This measure is a best practice that many brands are already using. And one that you should implement in your Instagram giveaways. Even if the terms and conditions of a giveaway include a clause that states how the winners will be chosen and contacted, the truth is that not many participants actually read them. Therefore, you should make it easy: state in the post itself how and when you will announce the winners and how you will contact them<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Stevie Jade Jewelry account clearly indicates in its Instagram giveaway post how they will notify the winners. As you can see in the image below, it states:<\/p>\n\n\n\n