Scammers Exploit Instagram Copyright Reports to Demand Ransoms, Users Say

Instagram users have reported being targeted by scammers who file fake copyright infringement claims against their accounts and then demand payment to withdraw the reports, according to the BBC.

According to the BBC, affected users say they face a difficult choice: pay the scammers or risk having their accounts suspended by Meta, Instagram's parent company, over the fraudulent claims.

The BBC reported that Meta has struggled to identify the individuals behind these scams, leaving some users without a clear path to resolve the issue through the platform's official channels.

The report did not specify the scale of the scheme or how many users have been affected, but described a pattern in which users are pressured to pay ransoms to avoid losing access to their accounts.

The BBC said it had approached Meta for comment regarding the reports of copyright-related extortion on Instagram.