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Did you know – an estimated one in ten Instagram accounts is believed to be fake, with some impersonator accounts amassing tens of thousands of followers? Here’s insights on how account impersonation on Instagram threatens business security.
By Yochai Corem, VP, External Risk Management, Check Point Software
Instagram’s user-friendly platform has revolutionised how businesses connect with their audiences. However, this same accessibility has created a significant vulnerability: Instagram impersonation, a growing threat that poses serious risks to businesses’ financial health and reputation.
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Instagram impersonation occurs when malicious actors create fake accounts that masquerade as legitimate businesses or their executives. While Meta, Instagram’s parent company, provides mechanisms to report such accounts, the process often proves frustratingly ineffective. Business leaders report lengthy delays in account takedowns, with some fake accounts operating unchallenged for months or even years.
The scope of this problem is vast. Approximately one in ten Instagram accounts is believed to be fake, with some impersonator accounts amassing tens of thousands of followers. This level of reach gives bad actors significant influence and credibility, making their deceptive activities even more dangerous for businesses and their stakeholders.
Financial and Reputational Damage
The impact of Instagram impersonation extends far beyond mere nuisance. These fake accounts serve as vectors for sophisticated cyber attacks that can cause substantial harm to businesses. One common scheme involves using impersonated accounts to collect sensitive information. When cybercriminals pose as trusted businesses, they can convince unsuspecting users to share personal information, login credentials, or other confidential data.
Yochai Corem
Malvertising represents another serious threat. Fake business accounts may distribute advertisements containing malware or links to malicious websites, potentially compromising users who believe they’re interacting with legitimate company content. This not only puts customers at risk but can severely damage a business’s reputation when these attacks are discovered.
Perhaps most concerning is the use of fake accounts for fraudulent job posting schemes. Cybercriminals impersonating legitimate businesses post false job opportunities as part of elaborate scams designed to facilitate identity theft, money laundering, or other criminal activities. These schemes can result in both financial losses and severe reputational damage when job seekers realize they’ve been deceived by what appeared to be a legitimate company presence.
The Challenge of Prevention
What makes Instagram impersonation particularly challenging for businesses is the platform’s structure. While Instagram offers reporting mechanisms for fake accounts, the process is often slow and unreliable. Some businesses report that their legitimate accounts have been accidentally suspended when trying to report impersonators, creating additional operational disruptions.
The automated nature of Instagram’s decision-making systems compounds these challenges. When mistakes occur in the reporting process, businesses often find themselves without clear recourse for swift account recovery. This can leave organizations vulnerable during critical periods when impersonator accounts remain active while legitimate business accounts are suspended.
Protective Measures for Businesses
While completely preventing Instagram impersonation may be impossible, businesses can implement several strategies to protect themselves and their stakeholders:
Employee and customer education stands as a crucial first line of defense. Organizations should invest in training programs that specifically address social media-based threats, expanding beyond traditional phishing awareness to include Instagram-specific risks. Employees need to understand how to verify authentic accounts and recognize potential impersonation attempts.
Continuous monitoring represents another essential strategy. While manual monitoring is impractical at scale, businesses can leverage specialised Instagram monitoring software to automatically track mentions of their brand name, domain names, employee names, and logos. This proactive approach helps organisations identify potential impersonation attempts before they cause significant damage. Monitoring should also focus on all inappropriate usages related to the company, including domain names, logos and names of employees.
When impersonation is detected, swift action becomes critical. Rather than relying solely on Instagram’s standard reporting procedures, businesses should consider partnering with takedown service providers who maintain direct relationships with Instagram’s team. These partnerships can dramatically reduce the time required to remove malicious accounts, with some providers achieving average takedown times of 24 hours.
Looking Forward
As Instagram continues to grow as a business platform, the threat of impersonation is likely to persist and evolve. Organisations must recognise that protecting their brand on Instagram requires the same level of vigilance as other cybersecurity efforts. By implementing comprehensive monitoring systems, maintaining strong relationships with takedown service providers, and continuously educating stakeholders about potential risks, businesses can better protect themselves against the growing threat of Instagram impersonation.
Success in this area requires viewing Instagram security not as a one-time effort but as an ongoing process of monitoring, response, and adaptation. As impersonators develop new techniques, businesses must remain agile in their protective measures, ensuring they stay one step ahead of those who would abuse their brand identity for malicious purposes.
