The "InstLike" Scam
...well, that's Instagram worthy.
The Android app, InstLike, promised free Likes and followers to Instagram users was another effective scam that over 100,000 Instagram users fell for and became No. 22 under most downloaded "utility" apps and No. 571 app overall.
After downloading the free application, users were asked to share their usernames and passwords, turning them into willing participants of a giant scam. The app developers promised at the login screen that, "We don't steal your account," leaving the user feeling safe as if they could trust the application. Once starting the application, InstLike began following random users and liked random photos with your account. The more people who downloaded the application, the more likes and followers the pool of scammed users would get. If you weren't satisfied with the results of the free version of the app, you could buy virtual coins to accrue more likes and followers. The application got more than just your password, but as well as your credit card information.
The app was overlooked by Apple and Google for months. The first red flag was put up by the security firm Symantec who spotted the scam in late October. "People didn't realize that they were being duped into giving their login credentials to this app," Satnam Narang, the security researched at Symantec who found out InstLike.
Symantec warned Apple and Google after their discovery and was removed from Google Play and the App Store on October 25th and November 7th. Though, it was too late, tens and thousands of users had already downloaded the application.
This scam is just one representation of the extensive measures we are willing to take to receive more likes and followers on Instagram. Instagram is the power of popularity among social media network. It has become a social standard to receive more than 60 likes on a photo. If you do not receive that many, then lengths will be taken from as far as posting photos of illegal drugs to posting nude photos. "It's just very interesting to see what length people will go in order to get likes on their photos," Narang added.
Even though the application has been removed from Google and Apple stores, the website, InstLike.com, is still in operation.
As George Carlin once said, "Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups."
Chloe Smith
I feel anytime you are asked for a username and password, you must be weary of what action you take. Personally, I do not ever give out that information, no matter what. There are predators on the internet who thrive off of unknowing users. You have to be careful not to become a victim.
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