friend me on instagram scammy feeling messages on to my zazzle

[ShadoWind]

Has anyone gotten any messages from people saying they love your work and they want to talk to you more about a product and them asking you to friend them on instagram so they can either talk more or keep up with your new designs so they can buy your stuff later?   I got a message saying this:

Hi creator, I have a question about your product: https://www.zazzle.com/flights_of_fantasy_raven_faery_art_apron-256611225436616549

"Hello, this is a great design. I like it very much. I'm going to order some products ， Can you add me to Instagram to talk about collaboration?My Instagram account is meghoop12 , Looking forward to our cooperation. " 

I was a little suspicious but I responded with sure but that we were were probably in different time zones as they sent the message at 4am my time but to either feel free to ask me on here or on Instagram about the design and I would get back to them as soon as I could to answer any questions about said product....but I have heard nothing from them so far either place....and never saw them purchase any thing in my back end. Now today I've got this new message from supposedly someone else saying

"Hello, my friends and I like your design very much. Can we add Instagram friends?Later, we can see your new works on Instagram and we also have the idea of ordering. My Instagram account is cylloery33 . I'll wait for you on Instagram" 

This feels even more fishy! especially since is so close to what the other person said and they never got back to me...it feels like they are either wanting to hack my instagram account or try to steal my art or something? I'm thinking I"m gonna go back and block that other one and report them on insta and not respond to this one/ try to report them too.... I don't want to mess up possible sales, but my gut is telling me this is NOT legit. 

Anyways I just thought I would put it here in the forums in case anyone else had run across this or if it some new scam so you all know about it.  If I am wrong and this is not a weird scam, then feel free to correct me.

[CreativeLeahG · Accepted solution]

There are many threads re this, its a scam, report them via report function on chat box.

[ShadoWind]

thank you will do!

[deznr07]

YES, THEY ARE SCAMMERS, the grammar alone is a red flag. Also, there is no need to have someone who wants you to add them on Instagram. I don't understand their motive, so I report and block. It's getting annoying after having at least 12 people so far... 

[Windy]

Let us know if your Instagram gets hacked. A lot of us in the forums have been wondering what the goal is. I think it's been going on about three or four months.

[KeegansCreation]

I got it today and reported it. I am also wondering what the goal is. Is Instagram the actual target and Zazzle designers are a portal? I don't have an Instagram account so am not familiar with how it works.

[Digitalbcon]

Yeah, I did too...reported!

[Windy]

@KeegansCreation 

I don't know. I have a few instagram accounts, one of which I use for Zazzle. This instagram is ON MY PROFILE. So the idea that anyone would need to ask me to please add them on Instagram makes no sense. Anyone who wishes to follow quite a few of us on Insta can just look at any of our profiles and use the link provided right there for all to see.

 There's a lot of weird stuff at Insta also, where people post under a photo something like "DM it on (such and such an account) or "promote it on (this account). I just ignore all that. These unsolicited messages will arrive the very second I post the image. I don't know if those are legit or what. So many mysteries in the BOT World and so few answers.

[rebeccawang]

I got the same message a few days ago. I just reported and blocked them.

[WHS_Designs]

This may fall under the umbrella of fake merchandise scams.

2022 Instagram Scams: 10 Major SCAMS to Avoid This Year | Aura 

[Windy]

I think I read that article the other day and did not find anything right on point, except that if a bot is approaching tens of thousands of accounts, and thereby gaining thousands of followers, that makes the fake merchandise seller look legitimate. Is that what you are thinking is going on here? 

[WHS_Designs]

Yes. 🙂

[WHS_Designs]

IMHO, it's like an endorsement for these instascammers if they can get legitimate Instagram accounts (which some Zazzle creators have) to follow them. if they can get thousands of these Zazzle creators to follow/endorse them, they appear more credible, and then they'll try to sell stuff to others that they don't have (and do not have any intention of buying from you).

W.H.

[Annyway]

Yeah I got one the other day, "Hi,I'm Alex. I'm very interested in several of your products, I'm going to wholesale in bulk, can you chat on my instagram, I'm working on something, you can add me first, I'll get back to you later, account: sheikukko , look forward to our cooperation." Like, I'm not sure how that makes sense. I didn't reply and just reported it now as "spam" since there are only two choices for reporting: "spam" and "inappropriate".

[posyrosie]

I referred them to Zazzle.  

[fareyaamin]

I'm not sure. One of my Instagram accounts, which I have several of, is used for Zazzle. I have this Instagram profile. So it's absurd to think that someone would need to ask me to add them on Instagram. Anyone who wants to follow a number of us on Instagram only needs to visit one of our profiles and click the publicly visible link.

Also on Instagram, there are a lot of strange things that are said, such as "DM it on (such and such an account)" or "promote it on (this account). I simply ignore it all. The moment I share the image, these unsolicited communications will start to come in.might be this link can help you..

https://community.zazzle.com/t5/general-zazzle-discussion/friend-me-on-instagram-here-scammy-problem-solved-zazzle/m-p/27011