(Acadia News Photo)
You might want to double-check your Instagram messages.
Hackers are hijacking accounts on the social media platform in a new scam, that asks you to check out a cool video, or help with a new job they just got.
Kristin Matthews with Better Business Bureau Atlantic says people are receiving strange messages from the scammers, posing as a friends account.
“It means your friend’s account has been hacked, and now the scammer is reaching out to you and others so they can hijack more accounts. If you click the link they send you, that’s how your account can get hacked,” says Matthews.
She says the scammer will then make an odd request.
“To get your account back, they’ll ask you to send them a video asking your followers to invest in a certain cryptocurrency program. Whether or not you actually get your account back after doing this is unknown.”
She says it’s important to notify your friend outside of Instagram that they’ve been hacked, and to not engage further with the phony account.
Valentines Day is weeks away, which means reminders of love are around every corner. Scammers use this premise to pray on lonely individuals. Make sure you keep in mind that love isn't the only think in the air this holiday season! #BBB #BBBScamTracker #LoveScams pic.twitter.com/cNw05434Te
— BBB Atlantic (@BBBAtlantic) February 3, 2022
