SCAMMERS are abusing Instagram’s copyright-reporting system to suspend users’ accounts and demand payment to restore them. The tactic hinges on filing fake copyright complaints that claim an account is using material it doesn’t own. Repeated complaints can trigger temporary suspensions, locking victims out even when they are innocent. The BBC reports that offenders often move the conversation to another platform, such as Telegram, where they demand a ransom to withdraw the claim.
One affected account holder told the BBC he paid around $50 in cryptocurrency after Meta’s initial handling was slow, only for the scammers to target him again almost immediately. The scheme is feasible because Instagram’s processing of copyright notices is highly automated and does not initially verify the authenticity of complaints; the policy requires rights holders or authorised representatives to file notices, but IDs are not checked before action is taken.
The issue has drawn legal attention in multiple jurisdictions. The Delhi High Court is examining whether platforms can suspend user accounts over copyright violations, while Meta has acknowledged that in at least one case 13 fraudulent strike notices against a single user were restored after review. Meta says it has restored affected content and is adding protections, though it has not announced comprehensive fixes to the “suspend first, verify later” workflow.
Law enforcement advises victims not to pay, since payment can encourage further extortion and offers no guarantee of relief. Practical advice includes using two-factor authentication, using Instagram’s official appeal process, and maintaining copies of all complaints and ransom demands as evidence. The article notes that copyright notices are also used as phishing lures in other platforms, underscoring the broader risk of credential theft and impersonation tied to copyright scams.