Instagram Fake Giveaway Scam UK: How to Spot and Report It
Fake Instagram giveaways are designed to steal your money, personal data, or both — and they're growing rapidly on the platform.
What is an Instagram fake giveaway scam?
An Instagram fake giveaway scam is when a fraudster creates a fake account impersonating a real brand, celebrity, or influencer, then posts a fake giveaway to trick people into engaging. The scammer might claim you've won a prize (iPhone, holiday, cash) and ask you to click a link, follow the account, share personal details, or pay an 'entry fee' or 'shipping cost' to claim it. The account looks convincing — it may copy the real brand's profile picture, bio, and posting style — but it is controlled entirely by the scammer.
A blue tick is not proof a giveaway is genuine: it now mainly shows that an account pays for a Meta Verified subscription and has had its identity checked, so scammers can buy one and some legitimate brands go without. Once you engage, you either lose money, have your account compromised, or your personal data is sold to other criminals. Real brands rarely run giveaways via Instagram DMs or ask winners to pay upfront.
Red flags that an Instagram giveaway is fake
- The account is not the brand's genuine profile. Don't rely on the blue tick either way — it now only shows a paid Meta Verified subscription (scammers can buy one, and some real brands don't have it), so confirm the account by finding the brand's official profile through their own website.
- The account has very few followers or was created recently. Scammers often set up new accounts; check the 'About' section or look at when the account was created if possible.
- The giveaway asks you to pay money upfront — for 'shipping', 'processing', 'entry fee', or 'tax'. Legitimate giveaways never charge winners to claim prizes.
- The post asks you to click a link outside Instagram or visit a suspicious website. Real brands run giveaways within Instagram or direct you to their official website only.
- The giveaway asks for sensitive personal information like your full address, bank details, passport number, or social security number before you've won anything. Legitimate brands only ask for essential contact details after confirming you've won.
- The account name is slightly different from the real brand — for example, 'Apple_UK_Official' instead of 'Apple'. Scammers use similar names to confuse you.
- The giveaway promise is too good to be true — a brand-new iPhone, £5,000 cash, or a luxury holiday with no clear entry mechanism. If the prize seems unrealistic, it almost certainly is.
- The post has poor grammar, spelling errors, or awkward phrasing. Many scammers operate from outside the UK and their English may be noticeably off.
How the scam unfolds from first contact to loss
The scam typically starts when you see a post from what looks like a real brand or influencer offering a generous prize. The post asks you to 'like, follow, and comment' or click a link to enter. If you click the link, you're taken to a fake website that mimics Instagram's login page or a fake entry form. If you log in with your Instagram credentials, the scammer captures your username and password and can take over your account, lock you out, or use it to run the same scam to your followers.
Alternatively, the fake entry form asks for your name, address, phone number, and email — data the scammer sells to other criminals or uses for identity theft. If the scam involves a 'shipping fee' or 'processing cost', you're asked to pay via bank transfer, gift card, or cryptocurrency. Once you pay, the scammer disappears and you never receive the prize. In some cases, the scammer may contact you via DM claiming you've won and asking you to 'verify' your details or pay a fee to release the prize.
By this point, your account may already be compromised or your personal data is in criminal hands.
How to verify if an Instagram giveaway is genuine
Before engaging with any giveaway, take these steps to confirm it's real. First, don't treat the blue tick as proof — it only shows that the account pays for a Meta Verified subscription with a checked identity, which scammers can also buy and some genuine brands go without, so a tick is not a green light and a missing tick is not proof of a scam. Second, visit the brand's official website or their official Instagram account directly (search for them fresh, don't click links from the giveaway post) and check their recent posts — do they mention this giveaway?
Real brands promote genuine giveaways on their own official accounts and website. Third, look at the account's history: how long has it existed, how many followers does it have, and what kind of posts does it usually make? A brand-new account with 50 followers claiming to give away iPhones is almost certainly fake. Fourth, check the giveaway terms: does it ask for payment, sensitive personal data, or your Instagram login details? Legitimate giveaways never do.
Fifth, if you're unsure, contact the brand directly using the contact details on their official website — not via the suspicious account — and ask if they're running this giveaway. Finally, be wary of giveaways that ask you to click external links; real brands usually run giveaways entirely within Instagram or direct you to their official domain only.
What to do immediately if you've already engaged
If you've clicked a suspicious link or entered your Instagram login details, change your Instagram password right now using a device you trust. Go to Instagram Settings > Security > Password and create a new, strong password that you haven't used elsewhere. If you've already lost access to your account, use Instagram's account recovery process: go to the login page, tap 'Need more help?', and follow the prompts to regain control. If you've paid money via bank transfer, contact your bank immediately and explain you've been scammed.
For eligible bank (Faster Payments) transfers made on or after 7 October 2024, banks must reimburse most victims of authorised push payment (APP) scams, subject to conditions and a cap — ask your bank to treat it as an APP scam claim and to try to recall the payment. If you paid via gift card or cryptocurrency, unfortunately the money is almost impossible to recover, but report it anyway (see below).
If you've shared personal details like your address or phone number, monitor your credit report for signs of identity theft and consider Cifas Protective Registration if your identity is at heightened risk. If the scammer has taken over your account and is using it to run the same scam to your followers, change your password, enable two-factor authentication (Settings > Security > Two-Factor Authentication), and notify your followers via other channels that your account has been compromised. Do not click any links the scammer posts.
How to report an Instagram fake giveaway scam in the UK
Report the scam through multiple channels to maximise the chance of action. First, report the fake account directly to Instagram: go to the account, tap the three dots, select 'Report', and choose 'It's a scam' or 'Impersonation'. Instagram will review and may remove the account. Second, report the scam to Report Fraud, the UK's national fraud reporting service, by calling 0300 123 2040 or visiting their website. They log reports and share data with law enforcement and banks.
Third, if the scam involved a phishing link (a fake login page), report it to the NCSC Suspicious Email Reporting Service at report@phishing.gov.uk — include the link and any details about the fake account. Fourth, if you received a suspicious text message as part of the scam, forward it free of charge to 7726, the number most UK mobile networks use to report scam texts. Fifth, if you've lost money, report it to your bank and ask them to file a report with their fraud team.
Finally, you can contact Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133 for guidance on next steps if you've been financially harmed. Keep records of all screenshots, account names, and links involved.
Frequently asked questions
Does a blue verification tick mean an Instagram giveaway is genuine?
No. The blue tick now mainly shows that an account pays for a Meta Verified subscription and has had its identity checked — scammers can buy one, and some genuine brands don't have it — so a tick is not an endorsement of any giveaway and a missing tick doesn't by itself prove a scam. The reliable check is to find the brand's real profile another way: visit their official website and follow the Instagram link they publish there, then compare the username character by character. Treat any giveaway you reached from a random post or DM with caution, however professional the account looks.
I clicked a link from a fake giveaway and entered my Instagram password. What should I do?
Change your Instagram password immediately from a device you trust — go to Settings > Security > Password and create a new, strong password. Then enable two-factor authentication (Settings > Security > Two-Factor Authentication) so the scammer cannot log back in even if they have your old password. Check your account activity for any unauthorised logins or posts, and if you see any, report them to Instagram. If you've already lost access to your account, use Instagram's account recovery process to regain control. Monitor your email for any password reset requests from Instagram or other services, as the scammer may try to compromise other accounts.
I paid a 'shipping fee' for a fake giveaway prize. Can I get my money back?
Contact your bank immediately and explain that you've been scammed — how you paid matters. If you paid by bank (Faster Payments) transfer on or after 7 October 2024, banks must reimburse most victims of authorised push payment (APP) scams, subject to conditions and a cap, so ask your bank to treat it as an APP scam claim. If you paid by debit or credit card, chargeback covers card payments (not ordinary bank transfers) — ask your card provider whether chargeback or other protections apply. If you paid via gift card or cryptocurrency, recovery is extremely unlikely because these payments are irreversible, but still report it to Report Fraud (0300 123 2040) and your bank so they have a record. Do not send any more money to the scammer, even if they claim they need a 'processing fee' or 'tax' to release your prize — this is a common follow-up tactic.
The fake account is still running the scam to other people. How do I report it?
Report the account to Instagram directly: visit the account, tap the three dots, select 'Report', and choose 'It's a scam' or 'Impersonation'. Instagram reviews reports and may remove the account if it violates their terms. You can also report it to Report Fraud (0300 123 2040) so it's logged with UK law enforcement. If the account is impersonating a specific brand or person, encourage them to report it too — brands and public figures have more direct channels with Instagram. Share screenshots of the scam with your followers so they don't fall for it, but do not engage with the fake account or click any of its links.
Can scammers actually take over my Instagram account if I give them my password?
Yes. If a scammer has your Instagram password, they can log in, change your email address and password, lock you out, and use your account to run scams to your followers or steal your personal data. This is why you should never enter your Instagram login details on any website outside of Instagram itself — even if it looks identical to the real Instagram login page. If you've already given your password to a scammer, change it immediately and enable two-factor authentication. If you've lost access to your account, use Instagram's account recovery process to regain control as quickly as possible.