Fraudsters Make “Ban” And “Open An Account” Businesses Rise On Instagram,

Account fraud is becoming more and more popular on Instagram. (photo: unsplash)

JAKARTA – According to a new report from the Motherboard website, scammers on Instagram have now developed a lucrative "ban" package. For around 60 US dollars, some scammers will block any Instagram account of your choosing, friend or foe. Often the scammers make more money on the backend by helping targeted users regain access to their accounts, once they have been blocked.

The process, according to interviews and material reviewed by Motherboard, involves using a verified account to impersonate the target (name, photo, bio), and then reporting the target as a copycat to get them banned or the account banned. Apparently, as long as the target has a human profile picture, and this method is quite successful.

Motherboard wrote that other users they spoke to also had their accounts blocked after being reported to have violated Instagram's policies on suicide and self-harm. This type of content is very taboo for Instagram. Even always trying to be more proactive in dealing with it in recent years. This ban can also be caused by various scripts that can spam Instagram's reporting tool without reaching the app's limit (appears to be around 40 reports).

The business of banning people is very profitable according to at least one person who spoke to Motherboard.

To Motherboard, an account called "War", a pseudonym user, claimed to have also offered a ban service. In a Telegram message to Motherboard that “ban” is a full time job lol. They claim to have made more than five-figure dollars from selling Instagram bans in less than a month.

The fact that many businesses that offer banning services also offer assistance in getting an account back. So after helping one party to ban an account from operating, then they also offer services to get an account back from the victim they managed to ban. Sometimes at a price between 3,500 US dollars to 4,000 US dollars, it may not hurt either.

Some users noted that they accepted the offer of account assistance, as soon as their account was deactivated. In fact, often Instagram accounts report that they follow Instagram accounts that offer such assistance.

Instagram didn't immediately respond to a request for comment, but the company told Motherboard it was investigating sites offering the banning service, and that users should report people they suspect are guilty of such activity.

If you believe your account has been deactivated or blocked, Instagram offers instructions in its Help Center on how to get it back.