Beware of Copyright Infringement Notices on Instagram

A cyber security expert recently alerted consumers to a new technique being exploited by fraudsters i.e. sending phony infringement notifications.

One of the most popular social media networks is Instagram. Millions of people utilize the platform on a daily basis. Due to the immense amount of traffic, the platform attracts hostile actors too. Cybercriminals have recently developed a new means of threatening consumers.??

A cyber security expert recently alerted Instagram users about a new phishing scam that uses a phony copyright notice to lure users into opening dangerous links.

Instagram users are constantly posting new and interactive content every MINUTE. While a part of that content is original (i.e., it was developed and uploaded by the user), the other part includes movies, reels, photographs, and memes that may not be their own.?

There is no copyright infringement in most circumstances because the content is intended for sharing purposes on the platform. Users may, however, get a copyright violation notification in some situations.?

For example, multiple copyright violations might result in an Instagram account being suspended. Fraudsters prey on this fear to lure users into disclosing sensitive personal information.

According to the cyber security firm named Sophos, the message that users may receive is:

"Hey, we have received a complaint about a post on your Instagram. Copyright infringement has been reported on your post."

"If no objections are raised to the copyrighted material, your account will be deleted. If you believe this decision is erroneous, please submit an objection using the link below.”

In addition, users should avoid clicking links associated with suspicious emails to prevent falling victim to cybercrime.

After that, when users click on the link provided to file a copyright infringement complaint, a malicious website appears, asking them to log in to their Instagram account using their login ID and password.?

However, when users input their passwords, the link informs them that the user ID and password they supplied are incorrect. The users receive a notice indicating their appeal was successfully submitted after two to three attempts.

This is merely a ruse employed by scammers to obtain a user's ID and password, granting them access to their Instagram account.