Scammers Demand Ransoms from Instagram Users Over Fake Copyright Claims
Instagram creators are being targeted by scammers using fake copyright claims to suspend accounts and demand ransoms. Here is how the scam works and how users can protect themselves.
Instagram creators and page owners are facing a growing cyber-extortion threat in which scammers file fake copyright infringement claims against their accounts and then demand money to withdraw the complaints.
The emerging scheme exploits Instagram's copyright enforcement system, particularly the consequences of repeated copyright strikes. Once several complaints are filed against an account, its content can be removed, monetisation can be affected and, in some circumstances, the account can be temporarily suspended.
Scammers are exploiting that vulnerability to put pressure on creators who depend on Instagram for their businesses, audiences and income.
The latest reports show that the scam has become sufficiently widespread to attract attention from cybersecurity researchers, lawyers and courts.
How the Instagram Copyright Scam Works
The fraud typically begins when an attacker submits a copyright complaint against one or more posts belonging to a creator.
The complaint may claim that the creator has used photographs, videos or other material without permission. In some cases, several complaints are filed at once, creating the appearance of a serious copyright problem.
The scammers then contact the account owner, often through email or a private messaging platform such as Telegram.
Instead of asking the creator to follow a legitimate copyright dispute process, the alleged scammers demand money to withdraw the complaints.
Recent reporting by the BBC found that some demands have been for hundreds of dollars, while one creator with more than 1.5 million followers said he eventually paid $50 in cryptocurrency after his account was temporarily taken down.
The payment, however, did not necessarily end the problem. The creator reported receiving additional copyright strikes soon after paying.
Why Creators Are Particularly Vulnerable
The scam works because social media accounts can represent significant economic value.
For influencers, businesses, publishers and content creators, an Instagram account may be connected to advertising contracts, sponsorships, affiliate income, product sales and large audiences.
A temporary suspension can therefore translate into lost revenue and damaged commercial relationships.
The creator behind the "Lost in Time History" account, which has more than 1.5 million followers, told the BBC that his account had received dozens of what he described as obviously fraudulent copyright complaints during 2026.
He said the complaints were sometimes made against several posts simultaneously and were followed by demands to communicate through Telegram and pay money to have the strikes removed.
The account was eventually demonetised because of the volume of copyright claims, preventing the creator from earning from high-performing posts.
The Scammers Exploit Automated Enforcement
A central problem is that copyright-reporting systems have to process enormous numbers of complaints across platforms with billions of users.
According to recent reporting, scammers appear to exploit the fact that a copyright complaint can trigger enforcement action before the underlying dispute has been fully investigated.
That creates an opportunity for criminals to manufacture a crisis first and demand payment afterwards.
A July 2026 Delhi High Court case illustrates the seriousness of the problem. A digital creator alleged that fabricated identities were being used to submit false copyright complaints against his Instagram content, resulting in repeated content removals and account suspensions.
Court documents say the creator alleged that he recovered his account only after giving in to extortion demands. The court subsequently issued notices in the case and required Meta to respond.
The European Commission's Intellectual Property Helpdesk also reported that the Delhi High Court directed Meta to provide subscriber information and IP logs in a separate case involving alleged fraudulent copyright complaints and attempted extortion.
AI Could Make the Scam Easier to Scale
Cybersecurity experts say the problem may become more difficult as artificial intelligence enables criminals to automate parts of the operation.
Copyright scams are not new. Similar schemes have previously targeted website owners and YouTube creators.
But AI can potentially help scammers generate convincing messages, identify potential targets, create fake documentation and coordinate large numbers of fraudulent complaints.
University of Sussex intellectual property law expert Andres Guadamuz told the BBC that AI could allow criminals to automate much of the process, turning copyright fraud into a numbers game.
This creates an increasingly difficult challenge for platforms: distinguishing genuine copyright complaints from deliberately fabricated ones at enormous scale.
What Meta Says
Meta has acknowledged that some Instagram creators have been affected.
Following reports about the recent cases, a Meta spokesperson said the company had reviewed affected accounts, restored content and introduced additional protections intended to prevent similar attempts.
Meta said its systems are designed to protect users from such activity and that it works to combat deceptive behaviour aimed at defrauding people and businesses.
Instagram's position is that copyright complaints should be submitted by the copyright owner or an authorised representative.
That distinction is important because legitimate copyright-enforcement agencies do exist. Companies and lawyers can lawfully act on behalf of copyright owners to report infringements.
The problem arises when criminals falsely claim to represent rights holders or manufacture copyright complaints for the purpose of extorting account owners.
Warning Signs of a Fake Copyright Claim
Creators should be particularly cautious when a supposed copyright claimant demands payment to withdraw a complaint.
Other warning signs include; a demand to pay cryptocurrency or money through an unrelated payment channel, pressure to communicate through Telegram or another private messaging service, threats that additional strikes will be filed unless payment is made, a claimant who cannot provide credible evidence of copyright ownership, multiple copyright complaints arriving simultaneously from suspicious or unrelated accounts, messages demanding immediate payment to prevent an account from being permanently deleted, and a links directing users to unfamiliar websites to "appeal" a copyright violation.
Earlier Instagram copyright phishing campaigns have also used fake infringement notices to trick victims into entering their login credentials on fraudulent websites.
That means a copyright scam can have two objectives: stealing money and stealing the account itself.
What Instagram Users Should Do
The first rule is simple: do not pay a stranger simply because they claim they can remove a copyright strike.
Instead, users should verify the complaint through Instagram's official channels and use the platform's established appeal procedures.
Meta advises users who receive suspicious messages claiming to be from the company not to click links or attachments and not to respond to the messages.
Users should also enable two-factor authentication, maintain strong and unique passwords and avoid entering Instagram credentials into links received unexpectedly.
If an account is compromised, the owner should immediately secure the associated email account, change passwords and use Instagram's official account-recovery procedures.
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission similarly advises people dealing with suspected impersonation scams to independently contact the organisation involved using contact information they already know to be genuine rather than relying on details contained in an unexpected message.
Do Not Let Fear Drive the Decision
The effectiveness of the scam ultimately depends on fear.
Scammers know that creators worry about losing years of work, followers, advertising contracts and income. By generating several copyright strikes and then offering a supposedly quick solution for money, they exploit that anxiety.
But paying a ransom may not solve the problem. In one recent case, additional strikes reportedly arrived shortly after the victim paid.
The episode is a warning to Instagram creators everywhere: a copyright complaint should be treated as a legal and platform-enforcement matter, not as a private negotiation with someone demanding money.
As social media becomes increasingly important to journalism, entertainment, business and personal brands, protecting digital accounts is becoming as important as protecting bank accounts.
For creators, the safest response to a suspicious copyright demand is to slow down, verify the claim independently, preserve evidence, report suspected fraud and use Instagram's official dispute mechanisms rather than paying an unknown individual.