The Instagram Giveaway Scam I Almost Fell For
A few months ago, I came across an Instagram post from what looked like a big sports brand doing a “giveaway.” It said if I liked the post, followed their page, and clicked the link in their bio, I could win a free pair of Nike cleats. The account had the Nike logo, tons of likes, and people commenting things like “Hope I win!” so it really looked real.
How the Scam Worked
The whole point of the scam was to get people’s personal information. When I clicked the link, it took me to a website that looked just like the real Nike site. It asked for my name, email, phone number, and address “to ship the prize.” What was actually happening was that scammers were collecting people’s info to sell it or use it for identity theft.
They copied everything—the Nike logo, colors, and even used a fake blue check emoji next to their name to seem verified. The whole thing was set up to make people trust them.
What They Were Trying to Do
The scammers wanted to steal information and possibly money. I later found out that some people got messages saying they “won” and just needed to pay a small “shipping fee.” Once people entered their credit card info, the scammers would charge them or use it for other purchases.
How I Realized It Was Fake
After looking closer, I noticed the username had a small difference—it was something like @nike_officiall_ with two L’s instead of one. I checked the real Nike account, and there was no giveaway post. That’s when I knew I almost fell for a scam. I reported the account and told my friends not to click on it.
How to Tell if It’s Real or Fake
Here are some easy ways to check if something’s fake before getting tricked:
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Look at the username carefully. Fake accounts usually have extra letters or symbols.
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Check for the real blue checkmark. If it’s in the bio, it’s fake.
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Don’t click random links. Always go to the brand’s real website.
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Think about it—if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
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Search the company’s real page to see if they posted the same thing.
Final Thoughts
This experience showed me how easy it is to get fooled online. Scammers make everything look real, and it’s easy to believe it’s legit, especially when you’re not paying close attention. Being careful online isn’t just about not getting hacked it’s about protecting your information and not falling for fake stuff that looks real.