Whether it's a spammy bio or an eerily similar username to an account you already follow, there are tons of fake Instagram accounts popping up every day.
And while Instagram frequently removes bots and fake accounts, thousands still slip through the cracks.
So, how can you tell which accounts are real and which are fake?
We're sharing five red flags to look out for when trying to identify a fake Instagram account — plus, how to block it when you do.
FYI: Later is integrated with Instagram’s API, meaning using our social media tools has IG’s stamp of approval.
Start a free trial to see how easy Later makes Instagram management (including deleting fake comments).
Table of Contents
Why are Fake Instagram Accounts Harmful?
Spammy Instagram accounts and bots do more harm than good.
While they might boost your follower number, we always recommend blocking and deleting fake followers.
Here are 4 reasons to stay far away from fake accounts.
They Often Malicious. Whether they’re asking for money or are spreading hateful rhetoric, you want to keep yourself, your community, and people at large safe from ill-intended people hiding behind fake profiles.
They’re Scamming Your Audience. Scams that might be obvious to you might not be clear to your audience. Reporting scam artists keeps your followers safe from manipulation tactics.
They Devalue Your Account. Whether you’re a brand or creator, you want to make your Instagram profile a fun and safe space. An onslaught of comments from fake followers could discourage people from engaging with your content and signal that you don’t care about curating your profile.
They Skew Your Engagement Metrics. If you’re a creator, you want to make sure your following is authentic. Brands want to work with creators with a genuine audience and will notice if your community is filled with fake accounts.
5 Ways to Tell if an Instagram Account Is Fake
From scammers to bots, here are five ways to sniff out a fake Instagram account:
Inconsistent (Or Copied) Bio
Spammy DMs
Random Comments on Posts
Offers Money or Promotes a Product/Service
Follows a Lot of Accounts
#1: Inconsistent (Or Copied) Bio
Fake Instagram accounts will often copy their bio from a real one — with a few changes and inconsistencies.
Pay attention to the characters in their username. There’s usually an extra letter, number, or symbol added to the bio — like this account that impersonated Jackie Aina:
In other cases, they may not have a bio at all:
Another telltale sign that an account is fake?
If the bio relies heavily on emojis, hashtags, or sounds like a machine wrote it.
Plan and schedule your content, and monitor genuine engagement on your Instagram with Later — create an account today.
#2: Spammy DMs
A fake Instagram account will often slide into your DMs pretending to be a reputable brand.
They'll send you a generic message, and will encourage you to either visit another website or DM someone else with your information:
These accounts typically offer sexual or explicit content, crypto schemes, cash sales, brand partnerships, or even retail scams in their bio:
TIP: When an account DMs you, look at its profile. Check how often the account is posting content (and if they reuse the same caption). A fake profile will often post all of its content at once — if it even has any.
#3: Random Comments on Posts
If an account frequently leaves comments unrelated to the content of your post (or random emojis), they're likely fake.
If you’re still unsure, peruse their profile and check the comments on their posts to see who’s engaging with the account.
Do the comments on their posts seem authentic? Are they selling or promoting something? Are they repetitive or using all caps?
TIP: Check for comments that promise easy ways to pay off debt, use different fonts, or ask you to DM them.
#4: Offers Money or Promotes a Product/Service
Fake Instagram accounts will often offer users the opportunity to make quick cash or win free products.
They'll lure you in to get your personal information and then potentially hack you:
NOTE: Sometimes, these accounts will pose as a reputable brand to gain your trust (especially if the brand is running a giveaway or contest). Double-check our tips before you engage with them.
#5: Follows a Lot of Accounts
A fake Instagram account needs followers to seem legitimate.
And most will use the outdated #FollowForFollow method in an attempt to get people to follow them back.
If you come across an account that has a small number of followers but a large following, it’s likely fake:
TIP: Compare the number of accounts they're following, the number of followers they have, and the number of posts they've posted.
How to Block a Fake Instagram Account
So, now that you’ve learned how to spot them, the question is how can you protect your account and block the fake ones?
Here are two main ways to block a fake account on Instagram:
Block and Report Them via Their Profile
Block and Report Them via DMs
#1: Block and Report Them via Their Profile
If a fake Instagram account has left a comment on your post, first click on their profile:
Then select the three dots in the top right corner of their profile, and tap "Block":
You'll then be prompted to either:
Block the account and other accounts they may have/create
Block the account
If you'd like to report them, this is also the best time to do so.
#2: Block and Report Them via DMs
When a fake Instagram account sends you a DM, it'll usually appear in the Requests tab in your Inbox.
Click on the message from the account, and you'll be prompted to either block, delete, or accept their request:
Similar to blocking them via their profile, tap "Block", and then "Block account":
You'll also be able to choose whether you'd like to block other accounts they may have/create, and report them.
How to Report a Fake Instagram Account
Spot a fake Instagram account impersonating you?
According to Instagram, you can report the account in-app, or fill out their "hacked" support form to tackle the issue.
And if you don't have an Instagram account, you can report the impersonation via their "Report an Impersonation Account on Instagram" form.
Engaging with fake Instagram accounts can leave your content vulnerable to spam, coercion, and content theft.
But with these tips, you'll not only be able to spot them, but you can block them too!
ICYMI: Later is the leading social revenue platform trusted by over 7M+ leading brands, creators, and social media managers. Sign up for free today.
