Getting verified on social media can make all the difference for an aspiring influencer, which is why a new Instagram phishing campaign making the rounds online is trying to lure in users with the promise of a blue badge.
For those unfamiliar, Instagram users that have been verified by the Meta-owned social network receive a blue badge with a checkmark next to their username in a similar way to how Twitter handles verification.
First discovered by email security company Vade back in July and detailed in a new blog post (opens in new tab), the latest Instagram phishing campaign aims to dupe users into divulging their personal information and account credentials.
If you’re an active Instagram user with hopes of getting verified, you’ll want to be on the lookout for an email with the subject line “ig bluebadge info” with an email address that begins with “ig-badges”. While the email uses spoofed Instagram and Facebook logos at the header and footer to appear more legitimate, Instagram explains in a support page in its Help Center that verification is done entirely through its platform and never over email.
A classic case of phishing
Although an Instagram user eager to get verified may fall for this phishing campaign, closely examining the body of the email itself quickly reveals that it’s a scam.
Several grammatical errors and typos appear throughout the email and Vade points out that it also includes a phrase commonly used by scammers:…
