Don't Get Scammed on Instagram
/Anyone that follows me on Instagram may already be familiar with the numerous impersonator accounts that have been popping up practically everyday, attempting to use my name and reputation to scam people out of their hard earned money.
A screenshot of an imposter account on Instagram with an extra ‘m’ in the username.
While I have tried to report these pages to Instagram as much as possible, and have made a number of posts and stories on my profile to warn people, the fact of the matter is that these scammer pages don’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. And, unfortunately, Instagram is doing very little about it, which includes rejecting my requests for verification several times.
After receiving the latest influx of messages from friends and followers regarding the most recent impersonator account, which sadly includes a few people that have been scammed, I decided to put up this blog post. My hopes is that people will visit my website (or do a Google search) and see it before sending these scammers any money.
Prior to posting this blog, I also dedicated an episode from my podcast Stars On Fire - discussing this more in detail, like explaining why having someone “cold call” or solicit money for readings through direct messages (DMs) is never a good sign. In fact, legitimate readers are often too busy with their current clients to solicit people individually for business.
Personally speaking, the work that I do as an astrologer is both unique to the person I’m reading for and can be quite taxing too. There’s a lot of time and energy that goes into each reading. Because of this, it is much better and even safer for people to seek me out for a consultation rather than the other way around. Think of it this way — if you really want a reading, you shouldn’t have to be pestered or coerced into getting one, especially from someone on social media that you’ve had little to no interactions with before. Instead, you would be doing your research, actively seeking the right astrologer or diviner for your needs and booking a session directly with them, most likely on their (secure) website.
By now, you must be thinking “what can I do to protect myself from spiritual scammers on social media?” I’ve included a few tips below. Although this isn’t an exhaustive list because spiritual scamming isn’t just limited to creating imposter Instagram accounts, I think you will find some of these suggestions helpful.
Always assume that any Instagram account that’s reaching out to you unsolicited and attempting to sell you a reading (or ask you to donate for one) is most likely an impostor/scammer. If you weren’t the one to initiate the conversation and inquire about a reading, chances are the person in your inbox is trying to hustle you. A READING SHOULD NOT BE BOOKED ON A WHIM. It should be something you book with thought, intentionality, consideration.
Don’t pay for any readings or send anyone money unless you can actually verify that the person messaging you is the real deal. You might be super excited and eager to be read by someone whose work you admire, but taking the time to do your due diligence to verify their identity will most likely save you money and frustration.
If you’re unsure as to whether the person in your inbox is the real deal, do a search or some googling to verify. Check to see if you’re already following the real account and reach out to them or, find the person’s website and contact info (via Google) and drop them a line. Impostor accounts usually follow you first with the hopes you’ll unknowingly follow them back. You’re probably already following the real account which should be a tip-off that the person DM-ing you is a fake. Other tip-offs include: extra numbers, dashes, or letters in the Instagram handle, missing captions, dozens of pictures and videos that were all posted within the same day or time period, little to no engagement from followers on the pics, using weird phrasing or out-of-character language like “grand rising” or “beloved”, asking for payment via Zelle, PayPal or a sketchy link.
If you’re able to ascertain that a fake or impostor has contacted you, report and block the account. Keep in mind that many readers are often overwhelmed with the amount of messages they are receiving with regards to fakes, so sometimes it’s best to just make the judgement call on your own to block the fake without having to message the reader about each one.
Spread the word. Tell your friends and tell your friends to tell their friends to be careful on these virtual streets. Let others know that there a are a lot of scammy, impersonator accounts on social media looking to harm and take advantage of others. Tell them to keep their cash in their pocket until further notice and refer them to this post.