Fake Instagram Verification Badge Scam
Fraudsters posing as Instagram staff or third-party 'badge services' promise to apply the blue verified checkmark to accounts in exchange for a fee, login credentials, or completion of a phishing form — none of which Instagram requires.
Part of: Verification Badge Scams
Last reviewed: 8 June 2026
Instagram's blue verification badge is awarded by Meta to accounts of public figures, celebrities, and major brands that meet Meta's authenticity and notability criteria. The application process is free and is located within the Instagram app under Settings > Account > Request Verification. Instagram never charges a fee for verification and does not use intermediary agents.
The badge is highly desirable because it signals authenticity and can increase follower trust and engagement. Scammers exploit this aspiration, particularly among influencers and small businesses trying to establish credibility, by advertising badge services in Instagram DMs, through third-party websites, and via paid ads.
Victims who pursue these offers lose money, account access, or both.
How this scam works on the Instagram brand
An aspiring influencer receives a DM from an account with a blue tick and a name like 'Instagram Partnerships' or 'IG Verification Team.' The message claims the influencer's account has been selected for verification and provides a link to a form requesting their username, password, date of birth, and a payment of $50-$500 for 'processing.'
Another approach involves a third-party website selling 'guaranteed Instagram verification' packages. After payment, the victim receives no badge. When they request a refund, the seller either disappears or delays indefinitely.
A more sophisticated variant involves compromising one verified account and using it to send mass DMs to other accounts, adding credibility because the blue tick appears on the sender — even though the account has been hijacked.
Common red flags
- Instagram verification is free and is applied for only through Settings > Account > Request Verification inside the app.
- Any request for payment in exchange for a verification badge is a scam, regardless of who appears to be offering it.
- You are asked for your Instagram password or to click a link outside the Instagram app to apply for verification.
- The message arrives via DM from an account that does not appear in Instagram's official @instagram or @creators accounts.
- The offer is described as time-limited or exclusive, urging immediate action.
- Third-party websites claiming to guarantee verification are not affiliated with Meta or Instagram.
How to protect yourself
- Apply for verification only through the legitimate in-app process: Settings > Account > Request Verification.
- Do not pay any third party for Instagram verification services — the application is always free.
- Enable two-factor authentication on your Instagram account so compromised passwords alone cannot unlock it.
- If you shared your password, change it immediately through the Instagram app and review login activity under Settings > Security > Login Activity.
- Report the DM or the account to Instagram via the three-dot menu > Report.
How to report it
- Report the scam account or DM directly in Instagram: tap the three-dot menu on the message or profile > Report.
- Report financial losses to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- UK users can report to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk.
- Report the scam website to the Anti-Phishing Working Group at [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
Does Instagram sell verification badges?
Meta does offer a paid 'Meta Verified' subscription on some platforms that includes a verification badge, but this is managed only through official Instagram or Facebook settings — not through third-party agents or DMs.
Why would a scammer use an already-verified account to contact me?
A verified account that has been hijacked still displays the blue tick. Scammers compromise verified accounts specifically to exploit the trust the badge conveys when DMing potential victims.
My verification application through the app was rejected — is there an appeal?
You can submit a new application after 30 days. There is no appeals process through any third party. Anyone claiming to expedite a rejection for a fee is running a scam.