How To Detect Fake Instagram Accounts?

Instagram is easily one of the most popular social media marketing platforms and it is quickly growing and becoming more prominent. The challenge is that there are many out there who create fake accounts and this could lead to a whole host of issues.
When you’re posting photos, stories, or videos, you want real users to see that content and interact with them. Whether it’s generic or stock photos with some really great copy or carefully drafted videos, a successful marketing strategy strives to grab new followers and interactions from the platform with over a billion users.
With so many fake accounts, it’s easy to get a bad taste for influencer marketing campaigns and genuine influencers, but it doesn’t have to be that way. If you stay vigilant and understand what a fake account owner might look like, you can help protect your Instagram account from identity theft and other similar issues a fake profile might cause.
Learn more in this guide!

❓️ What is the Problem with a Fake Instagram Account?

Fake Instagram accounts are more than just a nuisance. A fake account can actually pose risks to Instagram account users as well as the Instagram platform. When people create fake accounts, they typically do so with ulterior motives.
The majority of the time, fake Instagram accounts are the source of negativity. These are some common problems:

• Many are bot accounts
• Generic comments on your Instagram posts
• It could be an impersonation account
• Imposter accounts are spreading false information
• They may engage in scams
• Artificially inflate engagement metrics

Other users are meant to be a great thing for your IG account. However, an impersonation account can be detrimental to you and other accounts. Some of these accounts are created by companies that help boost your engagement, but if you do invest in these services, it’s much better to choose a company that doesn’t use fake accounts.
Many times, they leave spammy comments or display malicious intent. It could negatively impact an influencer’s audience and even drive people away. Fake pages on Instagram are the worst of an account’s followers and you want to avoid them or get rid of them if you can.
The risks should lead you to take actions to protect yourself:

• Protect personal information and don’t interact with fakes
• Focus on authentic influencers and engagement metrics rather than skewed metrics from fake comments or interactions
• Preserve your reputation by avoiding interaction. Doing so can harm your credibility, especially if the fake Instagram accounts are tied to any unethical practices

🔍 What Even is a Fake Account on Instagram?

So, let’s start at the beginning. Fake Instagram accounts are typically created by people who take some sort of joy out of taking advantage of others. Some do it to cause issues, others will try to pose scams, and still more just randomly interact.
It is nearly impossible to figure out how to find who is behind a fake Instagram account, which means they rarely have any lasting consequences. They may get banned when an Instagram account is fake, but they often turn around and just create fake accounts all over again sadly.

Different types of Instagram Fake Accounts

What is a fake account? It’s basically an account that is not a genuine representation of real users or a business. They come in many different forms, like these:

• Bots: automated accounts that typically are geared to increase follower count, likes, and engagement. Never use a service that uses bots.
• Impersonators: mimic a real person or brand to be deceptive. These accounts typically try to scam or spread false info.
• Spam Accounts: spammers just spend a ton of unsolicited messages to people. It may be phishing links, fake products, or even those spammy messages that say you’ve violated the terms and you’re going to be shut down soon.
• Ghost Accounts: limited engagement or activity with others, usually designated to inflate engagement metrics

Most fake accounts will fall into one of these categories. If you have ever looked at buying likes, views, comments, etc. from an influencer marketing platform, you want to be careful that you don’t buy fake accounts.
You would be surprised how many companies promise to boost your numbers, but they use bots and some sort of fake profile to do it. Instead, if you use these services, find a company that doesn’t use fake Instagram accounts to deliver for your order. Genuine users are so much more effective and a much better choice for your next influencer campaign.

What is the Purpose of Fake Instagram Accounts?

We’ve extensively covered that most fake Instagram accounts have abnormal intent to other users on the platform. While there are some generic users out there that try to keep a low profile, many of these profiles don’t have good intentions.
They may not be so bold to just ask for your credit card details, but they will find some way to blindside you and it can have negative ramifications.
These are some common reasons fake accounts exist:

• Marketing scams
• Social engineering attacks
• Impersonation
• Artificial engagement
• Laughs and giggles

Some people create fake accounts just because they think it’s funny. It allows them to troll pages and people without any ramification for their actions because it gives them a profile to hide behind.
No matter why they create fake accounts, it’s a terrible thing to have to deal with.

👆🏼 How to Know if Instagram Account is Fake

The good news is you can learn how to spot a fake Instagram account if you pay close attention to the details. You may not always be able to tell, but there are usually tell tale signs to watch for.
Consider first your campaign details and whether or not a user is part of your target audience. If it seems completely random that they are picked up through a brand campaign, there may be why.
Follow these steps to learn how to check if an Instagram account is real:

1. Closely check out the profile. Are the profile pictures real? Take a look at the username and bio. Stolen photos or weird usernames are one of your first giveaways to spot fake followers.
2. You can spot fake accounts if they seem to be avid about a topic but have very few posts or even no posts on their fake Instagram. Whatever they are posting from the fake Instagram won’t align with whatever oddities are in their generic images or vague bios.
3. If you want to tell if an Instagram is potentially fake, a quick look at the posts is a huge indicator. Even micro influencers will have high quality content that goes with their profile pictures. Fakes often have low-quality or irrelevant, random postings to their account.
4. Look for genuine engagement? You can always identify influencers by their engagement and interaction with people. Fake Instagram accounts won’t usually seek a genuine connection. In fact, some will try to get you to spend money or even let them claim prizes.
5. Start trying to engage with the account. Send a personalized message and see what kind of response you get, or if you even get a response from the account. A fake account may respond, but it will likely be generic if they do. If they can’t have meaningful conversations, they are not worth your time or follower count.

There are some third-party tools out there that some people use. These are supposed to pinpoint follower authenticity and engagement, which may help pinpoint when an account is fake. However, these apps are not necessarily a solve-all solution and may not catch everything.

📝 Strategies to Defend Your Profile from Fake Followers

Now that we’ve talked about the risks of fake accounts as well as signs to understand whether they may be fake, let’s talk about some strategies to help you defend yourself and your profile from potential fake accounts. It is so important to safeguard yourself and your account. Never just haphazardly reveal anything to suspected fakes and put yourself at risk.

Complete Regular Audits

It’s a great idea to perform regular audits of your follower count anyway. You can go through and determine who might have real accounts and who might have a fake Instagram. Use the checkpoints we shared to determine fake Instagram accounts

✅ Conclusion

Defending Your Account from Fake Followers

Protecting your Instagram account from fake followers is crucial for maintaining an authentic online presence. Here’s how to safeguard your profile:

• Regular Audits: Periodically review your followers and remove any accounts that appear suspicious or inactive. This helps maintain accurate engagement metrics.
• Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Protect your account from being compromised by enabling 2FA, which adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of identification to log in.
• Avoid Purchasing Followers: While it might be tempting to buy followers to boost your numbers, these are often fake accounts that can harm your reputation and engagement rates.
• Report Fake Accounts: If you come across fake accounts, report them to Instagram. This helps the platform identify and remove fraudulent profiles, contributing to a safer community.
• Engage Wisely: Be cautious about interacting with accounts that have suspicious activity. If you receive unsolicited direct messages or offers, vet the sender carefully before responding.

By implementing these strategies, you can protect your account from the influence of fake followers and ensure that your online interactions remain genuine.

Wrapping Up: Staying Vigilant Against Fake Accounts

In a digital landscape where authenticity is key, being able to detect fake Instagram accounts is an essential skill. By understanding the types of fake profiles, using effective detection tools and techniques, and taking proactive steps to protect your account, you can safeguard your online presence.
Remember, staying vigilant and regularly auditing your Instagram account will help you avoid the pitfalls of fake accounts, ensuring that your social media experience remains positive and secure. Whether you’re an individual user or a brand, these practices will help you maintain credibility and foster genuine connections in the ever-evolving world of Instagram.