“Get verified on Instagram” is undoubtedly on your list if you’re a thought leader, influencer, or entrepreneur. Indeed, you must. For corporate leaders, the blue check mark is especially essential if their success is dependent on their reputation in the eyes of the public.
Having your Instagram account verified does more than just make you part of an exclusive club; only about 5 percent of all accounts are given the green tick mark. Which of Ryan Reynolds’ several Instagram profiles actually belongs to him? The one with the blue tick next to it.
What are the steps to getting Instagram verification? Some would have you believe that all it takes is a few minutes of your time, a few dollars, and a few paperwork to complete the process. Don’t buy into their lies. They are con artists who want to steal your personal information or money.
Instagram’s website notes that verification is given to users who “represent a well-known, highly searched-for person, brand, or entity.” If it doesn’t sound like you or your brand, be wary of anyone who promises a smooth ride to a green light.
One should not rely on a request to apply
If you are a well-known person or brand, you can submit your own application to be verified. You can anticipate a reply to your application within 30 days. If you haven’t applied to become Instagram verified, the company won’t contact you to tell you that you’ve been approved.
Emails falsely promising recipients the Instagram verification badge were used in a recent scam. The email instructed recipients to go to the next stage of the process by entering their username and password.
In this phishing scam, the perpetrators pose as trustworthy online services in an effort to trick their targets into divulging sensitive information. Account credentials, financial data, personal identification information, and more are all fair game for phishers. Accounts can be hacked for further information, misused, and even locking out the real account owner after the information is taken.
If you get a message indicating you’ve been pre-approved, don’t believe it
One more sophisticated form of phishing tells the victim they are OK to go after clicking a link to confirm their approval. Instagram will not automatically accept you as verified. This type of mail is suspicious regardless of whether or not you have submitted a verification request.
According to Instagram’s website, users who have been accepted for verification will receive a notification on the Activity tab of the app. Warnings are given that they will never “reach out to ask you to confirm your verification.”
Be wary of anyone who charges you money for “verification”
Given that Instagram verification is not a good that can be bought, any attempt to provide verification in exchange for a fee, no matter how small, is likely to be a scam. This is especially true when the offer asks for little more than a payment.
In 2021, authorities in South Florida detected an Instagram verification scam in which con artists offered to verify users’ accounts for as little as $50 and even presented victims with photos of their conversations with local celebrities who used the service. It became out that the texts had been made up. Those who paid for it did not receive what was advertised.
However, PR agencies and other respectable organisations offer services to help their clients gain Instagram and other social media site verification for a charge. The companies in question set themselves apart by assisting their customers in entering the public eye via media appearances, so making them open to verification.
In the grand scheme of things, keep in mind that the whole point of verification on Instagram and other social media platforms is to legitimise influential profiles. This is how Instagram facilitates communication with the genuine Ryan Reynolds. That’s why it’s not something you can just go out and get.
Achieving the blue checkmark is typically considered as a way to improve credibility for entrepreneurs, opinion leaders, and influencers, even if they haven’t yet reached the “notable” position that justifies verification. If you find yourself there, exercise caution. It’s possible that in your pursuit of verification you’ll fall for a con.