Instagram users are increasingly falling victim to a sophisticated extortion scheme where bad actors file fraudulent copyright infringement claims to force account owners into paying ransoms. By repeatedly reporting content, scammers can trigger automatic account suspensions, leaving creators with the choice of waiting weeks for a slow appeals process or paying a fee to the extortionist to withdraw the claims.
One creator, known as Olly, who manages the 1.5 million-follower account "Lost in Time History," reported receiving dozens of clearly false copyright complaints throughout 2026. Despite using public domain images or obtaining proper permissions, Olly found his account temporarily disabled and his monetization features revoked. He eventually paid $50 in cryptocurrency to an extortionist as a "last resort" to regain access, only to be hit with further strikes immediately afterward.
Other creators, such as Abin Tom Sebastian of the "Morbid Kuriosity" account, have criticized Meta’s lack of responsiveness. Many users feel forced to pay for Meta’s £9.99 monthly verification subscription just to gain access to live support, which they argue should be available to all users facing such systemic abuse. Experts suggest that the rise in these scams is likely fueled by the use of artificial intelligence, which allows bad actors to automate the filing of claims at a massive scale.
Andres Guadamuz, an intellectual property law expert at the University of Sussex, noted that the current infrastructure of social media platforms was largely built on the assumption that copyright claimants are acting in good faith. This makes it difficult for platforms to distinguish between legitimate legal enforcement and criminal activity.
In response to inquiries, a Meta spokesperson stated that the company is working to improve its detection systems and has applied additional protections to the accounts of those affected. The company maintains that it actively fights deceptive behavior and advises users to contact rights holders directly if they believe a claim is invalid. Law enforcement agencies, however, continue to warn victims against paying ransoms, as doing so incentivizes further criminal activity.
Source: BBC News
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