My Instagram Got Hacked: A Lesson In Being Aware Online
A few years ago, I had one of those experiences you always hope will never happen to you. My Instagram account got hacked. At first, I thought it simply logged me out, but within a few minutes, I realized I was hacked. Suddenly, I just didn't have any access to my account.
How It Happened
It all started when I got a message from a close friend’s account. They told me something happened to their account, and they needed to recover it, and they needed to use my number. Because it came from someone I trusted, I didn’t think twice. I got sent a code, and I gave them the code, then I was hacked just that easily. Looking back, it was so clearly a hacker, but I pulled an all-nighter, and this happened at like 8 am, so I'll blame it on that. The hacker immediately used my credentials to log into my real account, changed my password, and locked me out. Within minutes, they started messaging my followers using my name, sending them the same fake link I had clicked. I was pretty upset about it, so I tracked down a number and messaged it on WhatsApp, and I'll post a picture so you can see what I messaged and what was said back to me.
The Purpose Behind It
The hacker’s goal was simple: to steal more accounts and use them for scams. Some hackers sell stolen accounts, especially if they have a lot of followers. My account wasn’t huge, but it was active, and that made it valuable for spreading their scheme quickly.
How I Could Have Spotted the Scam
Looking back, there were several red flags I ignored because the message came from someone I trusted. Here’s what I learned (and what others can look out for):
Be skeptical of urgency. Scammers often create a sense of pressure, “I need your help right now!” to make you act without thinking.
Use two-factor authentication. This adds an extra layer of protection, so even if someone gets your password, they can’t log in without a verification code.
Verify directly. If a friend sends you something suspicious, contact them another way (text or call) to confirm it’s really them.
The Recovery Process
It took days of reporting and verification through Instagram’s support, and I still never got my account back, but it's okay, I made a new account and to measures to prevent getting hacked again.
Final Thoughts
Getting hacked was embarrassing and frustrating, but it taught me a valuable lesson about digital awareness. The best thing you can do is slow down, double-check, and always think before you click. In the end, it wasn’t just about losing an account; it was about learning how easy it is to lose control of your digital identity and how important it is to protect it.
You got hacked-hahahahah🫵🏾
Wow this is such a thorough and informative post! You explained that situation well, I remember when it first had happened to you. Even though the experience was unfortunate, it’s great to see you were able to learn a valuable lesson from it, and in turn, provide others with some advice on things to look for in order to prevent others from getting hacked in the future.
Wow I’m so sorry this happened to you 🙁 thank you for spreading awareness.
Of course I would hate for this to happen to anyone honestly it really sucks when you’ve had your account for a long time.
Yeah, I remember talking to you about this and going through the process of making a new account. Like I said earlier, I’m glad it happened then and not now, so now I know what to look out for.
Aye getting hacked is nooo joke 😭 but this article does a great job of sharing how to be digital aware of scammers and things like that
Thank you. My main goal is just to give people a warning. I hate that people keep getting hacked, and not just with social media.
I’ve never been hacked before but I can imagine it was scary. Great job bringing awareness to the issue!! 🙂
Thank you, it wasn’t very fun, but I’m glad I can help people keep watch for their accounts.