This post affects over 1 billion Instagram users and it’s one of the saddest posts I had to write because I’m a victim. I used my Instagram account as a major part of my business and income stream. With nearly 150,000 followers, almost 800 posts including photos of myself, my six year old daughter, and our travels, and thousands of hours of relationship building and audience growth, it was hacked and stolen. I was trapped in an automated loop with Instagram, never actually speaking to a human or receiving any help. It was like someone broke into my house and set it on fire, burning it to the ground. Here’s what happen and a list of ways you can protect yourself.
Accounts of all sizes have been victim to these attacks, but there are ways to prevent it from happening. Last year, 6 million Instagram accounts were hacked in just one day. On the same day my Instagram account was hacked, 50 million Facebook accounts were hacked. The numbers continue to rise.
What happened First
On September 25th, I received an email that a Samsung SM-G610F signed into my account. Then I received another email seconds later.
When I tried to reset the password on the link provided, I was directed to a page that said the link wasn’t valid. I tried to log into my account and it said I put in the incorrect password. And so began the loop of automated replies and confusion.
How did this happened?
Someone got my Instagram password. I don’t know how it happened. I don’t use any third-party apps and I’m the only person with the password. Once they had the password, they could see the email and phone number linked to the account. They then used the same password to log into my email account and intercept the emails from Instagram.
Why was this naive on my part?
I should have been using Instagram Two Factor Authentication. Even with my password, the hacker would not have been able to take over the account. I could have stopped the changes from my phone when they were happening. Instead, they not only had access to my Instagram account but also my email to see the notifications from Instagram.
I shouldn’t have used the same password for both my Instagram and my email account. Since I didn’t use third-party apps and I never gave out my password, I assumed no one would ever be able to hack my account. THAT WAS A TERRIBLE ASSUMPTION AND COST ME MY ACCOUNT.
Ways I could have prevented the initial hack:
- Use Instagram Two Factor Authentication. Two-factor authentication is a security feature. If you set up two-factor authentication, you’ll be asked to enter a special login code or confirm your login attempt each time someone tries accessing Instagram from a device we don’t recognize. This is the most important step to preventing a hack.
- Use a different password for your email and your Instagram account. I know this may seem basic or to some people like a hassle, but it’s easier to prevent an attack than it is to get your account back.
After I lost control of the account, I had to secure my other accounts with the same password. It became a race to secure my credit card, my bank accounts, my other social media, and my blogs. I was in a complete panic and the rest of my day was STILL happening around me. I needed to stop time but I couldn’t. So I had to go to the bus stop to pick up Athena and act normal outside; meanwhile, my life was crumbling.
Once I felt like my other accounts were somewhat protected for the moment, I tried to get my account back.
Where do you submit a report on Instagram?
If you no longer have control of your account, go to the Instagram sign-in on your phone, enter your email address associated with the account, and hit forgot password. This will take you to another screen when you can click Submit A Report.
Make sure to use a different contact email for this report so you’re 100% certain the hacker hasn’t compromised that account as well.
In the additional details, include your Instagram username, email connected to the account, phone number connected to the account, and what type of phone (iPhone, Android, etc). Also include the time of the hack and the last time you had access to the account.
Why I didn’t get my account back
It’s been a week of submitting reports to Instagram and trying to contact someone to save my account. I have yet to hear from an actual human from Instagram, despite multiple attempts via their official form. All I receive is a loop of automated replies that eventually say the issue has been resolved. I can only assume that the hacker used my email to trick the Instagram automated machines into giving complete control of my account to them. After submitting yet another report to Instagram, it says the issue has been resolved. YES, THE ISSUE WAS RESOLVED FOR THE HACKER. If I could have spoken to a person at Instagram, this could have been prevented before all of my content was deleted.
I watched post after post be deleted from my account but there was nothing I could do about it. I watched 7 years of my life go up in flames as I stood by helpless. I can still see the account, but they’ve deleted all of my photos, changed all of the information, and deleted most of the people I was following. It has lost more than 40,000 followers and yet it’s still not in my possession. At this point, even if I get the account back, so much is lost.
How to Rebuild
I started to rebuild and I’m at least thankful that I can still use the name Bucket List Publications. I had a smaller account started for Athena so I changed the name and I’m now using that as my main account. I went from 147,000 followers and seven years of posts and connections to nothing.
What you can do to help
This issue is globe. It is worldwide and it could happen to you. Please share this post, tell your friends, and make sure to add Instagram Two Factor Authentication to your account so it doesn’t happen to you.
Also, follow me along on the new Bucket List Publications Instagram account too. Join us as we rebuild even bigger and better.
Bucket List Publications 
Hello there, I came across your post from Twitter where many people have been reporting similar hacks – by any chance, was your account re-connected to a .ru ending email?
I’m really sorry to hear about this, and it has affected people I know – and what’s worse is Instagram’s refusal to admit something’s wrong. It also turns out that 2FA doesn’t even help in all cases, and a friend whose account was also hacked didn’t use the same password for her email as for Instagram. It’s a rather deep-rooted problem it appears…
Best of luck with rebuilding your account, and I hope this does all get resolved in the long run!
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It was connected to a .ru ending email. I have all of the information including phone number, account name, email, etc. Instagram hasn’t done anything to help.
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Joined again you list.
I’m really sorry about what happened…. It’s a shame when people do this kind of thing…
It already happened with me but in other platforms and it’s a mess… years of many information goes to nothing… it’s like someone break your house and stole everything…
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Thank you for following. I love your photos and I’m following along now too.
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You’re welcome!
It’s a pleasure to follow your work and I love it since I discovered you a few years ago.
Thanks a lot, I really liked your notifications on instagram. I’m happy you enjoyed my pictures. (now the posts are from Valência trip, but you can check my beautiful island in the older photos)
Regards,
Nuno
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very sad this happened to you….
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Thanks! Don’t forget to secure your accounts… and follow along on my new one 😉 Have a great day.
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I have mine secured, I am a computer tech and more… good post for the people though and will follow the new iG
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While social media and the internet art such valuable tools, they also appear to make us very vulnerable. That’s the scary part.
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It really is scary. Just like that someone can wipe out an entire career. Have you ever had an account hacked?
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Us and luckily the damage was not severe.
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I know how much trouble it can be it has happened to me before and I am afraid it will again even with security measures !!
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I feel very jaded about it right now but hopefully this was my one time lesson.
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It’s so sad we have to be on guard with social platforms. My Facebook account was hacked via third party app or online quizzes used to analyze your characteristics. I’m more on the lookout than ever.
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Hopefully it was a one time lesson for both of us.
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That really sucks. Coincidentally, my account was hacked today, but I got it back. It never said that the PW was changed. I received three emails – someone signed in with an unknown device in an unknown location, they removed my phone number and changed the email to a new email (it was a Russian email address). I was able to reverse the changes and change the PW to something totally different. Anyway, sorry you have to start over again.
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This was a Russian email and phone number as well but I think it was actually from Turkey. Glad you were able to get your account back. Hopefully it was a one time lesson for both of us. Have you noticed any other issues or was it a one time thing? They also had my email password, which meant so many other issues as well.
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It was a one time thing. Maybe…. Someone in Nigeria tried to log into my Twitter account three days ago and failed. I put in an impossibly strong PW on both accounts, so hopefully… Having your email PW is awful – to me it would be worse than my Instagram, but I don’t use it to help me make a living.
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Sorry to hear this
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Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment.
At first, I was devastated but the overwhelming support from family, friends, followers, and sometimes people I don’t even know has reminded me that there is so much good in this world and it shouldn’t be overshadowed by a few bad people.
Don’t forget to follow along on the new account. We have plenty of amazing experiences and adventures to share – https://www.instagram.com/bucketlistpublications/
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I’m sorry this has happened to you. Social media sites need better security so things like this should never happen again.
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I wish I could say that I believe that will happen but I don’t. I should have better protected myself though and I’m glad that it didn’t cost me more.
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This seems to be an example of the disasters of our new era of communication at light speed. Unfortunately, it is not easy to guarantee security in this fast and volatile media of communication. It is a big loss, but life always brings new gains. Hope we can find safer ways to walk in the future. (“With nearly 150,000 followers, almost 800 posts including photos of myself, my six year old daughter, and our travels, and thousands of hours of relationship building and audience growth, it was hacked and stolen.”)
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Yes. I unfortunately learned a powerful lesson first-hand. I will grow bigger and better and hopefully be better prepared to protect myself in the future.
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Valuable information shared and thanks Leslie, so sorry for your loss and dilemma. There is no doubt your lesson shared here will prompt others to take a look at their own situation…. I certainly have. Two factor authentication setup on both Instagram and FB, different logins for all accounts across the web (Hassle but necessary). Best of luck with the account rebuild and have a great day.
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Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment.
At first, I was devastated but the overwhelming support from family, friends, followers, and sometimes people I don’t even know has reminded me that there is so much good in this world and it shouldn’t be overshadowed by a few bad people.
Don’t forget to follow along on the new account. We have plenty of amazing experiences and adventures to share – https://www.instagram.com/bucketlistpublications/
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OMG I’m so sad for you – if this had happened to me I would have been absolutely gutted. I don’t know if I would have had the heart to start again. But I also have to say thank you – I had no idea that hackers could do so much so easily and though some of my apps use two factor authentication automatically, I’ve been ignoring it on Instagram as, for me, it’s more of a plaything. I’ve done it now though and I’m going to share this post with friends. Thank you so much for VERY good advice!
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Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment.
At first, I was devastated but the overwhelming support from family, friends, followers, and sometimes people I don’t even know has reminded me that there is so much good in this world and it shouldn’t be overshadowed by a few bad people.
Don’t forget to follow along on the new account. We have plenty of amazing experiences and adventures to share – https://www.instagram.com/bucketlistpublications/
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s awful for you. I sometimes wonder what kind of world we live in these days. So sorry that you had this dreadful experience.
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Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment.
At first, I was devastated but the overwhelming support from family, friends, followers, and sometimes people I don’t even know has reminded me that there is so much good in this world and it shouldn’t be overshadowed by a few bad people.
Don’t forget to follow along on the new account. We have plenty of amazing experiences and adventures to share – https://www.instagram.com/bucketlistpublications/
LikeLike
Pingback: Instagram Hacked – Advice from a Victim « Musings of a Penpusher
Sorry to hear of your awful experiences. What do you think they want with your account? It appears to be a lot of work and hassle, simply to delete everything. Are they using the account for another reason?
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Pingback: Instagram Hacked – Advice from a Victim | Cat Among the Pigeons Press
Thank you for sharing your experience and advice. I’ve reblogged this. So sorry that you have had this awful experience. I’ve just set up two-step authentication myself, and will be looking at all my other accounts too. Thanks again!
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So sorry to hear about this! I had a scare with mine a few months ago and turned on two factor as a result. I got an email to sign into my account, and when I did it was an entirely different account for a random girl that had my email linked to it. I don’t know if I was hacked, if we both were, or if it was a weird glitch. Instagram has a LOT of issues with this!
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that must be terrible. So sorry to read that. I know you put lots of energy in it. Wow… I really don’t understand why people have to hack your account. what is the purpose ??? I have an Instagram account and I use it just to share with friends. Especially when I travel.
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Horrible. Thanks for the advice.
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