MailGuard has intercepted a phishing email campaign designed to harvest login credentials from Instagram users, including business and influencer accounts. The email reads, 'We are pleased to inform you that your account has been reviewed by our team and meets the criteria for a verified badge.'
How the scam works
The emails impersonate Instagram’s verified badge team and come from meta(at)verifiedbadgescenter(dot)com, making them appear legitimate at first glance.
The email claims the recipient’s account meets the criteria for verification and includes a “Verify” button. Clicking the link leads to a fake login page mimicking Instagram and Meta branding.
Step 1: The landing page requests the victim’s Instagram username.Step 2: The next page prompts for their password.
Step 3: Victims are then taken to a fake “please wait” page, after which the process halts. Attackers collect any data entered during these steps.
This staged process creates a false sense of urgency and trust, encouraging victims to hand over their credentials.
What the fake email looks like
The phishing email is branded as an official Meta communication, using Instagram logos and language about account verification. The link takes recipients to a fake domain (verified-badgescenter(dot)com) that has no connection to Meta or Instagram.
The fake login page closely resembles Instagram’s interface.
Once credentials are entered, a waiting page is displayed to suggest the process is being verified.
The final page in the sequence is branded as “Verified Badges Center”, which is unrelated to Meta or Instagram.
Why this attack matters
Credential phishing attacks like this one target not just individual users but also organisations that manage brand accounts on Instagram. Access to a compromised account can be used to post fraudulent content, spread malware, or launch secondary attacks.
This campaign demonstrates how attackers continue to exploit trusted brands and social proof (like verification badges) to bypass human and technical security controls.
Stay Safe - Know the Signs
MailGuard advises all recipients of these emails to delete them immediately without clicking on any links. Responding or providing personal details can lead to identity theft, data breaches, and financial losses.
Avoid emails that:
- Aren’t addressed to you personally.
- Are unexpected and urge immediate action.
- Contain poor grammar or miss crucial identifying details.
- Direct you to a suspicious URL that isn’t associated with the genuine company.
Many businesses turn to MailGuard after a near miss or incident. Don't wait until it's too late. Reach out to our team for a confidential discussion by emailing expert@mailguard.com.au or calling 1300 30 44 30.
One Email Is All That It Takes
All that it takes to devastate your business is a cleverly worded email message that can steal sensitive user credentials or disrupt your business operations. If scammers can trick one person in your company into clicking on a malicious link or attachment, they can gain access to your data or inflict damage on your business.
For a few dollars per staff member per month, you can protect your business with MailGuard's specialist, 'zero zero-day' email security. Special Ops for when speed matters! Our real-time 'zero zero-day', email threat detection amplifies our client’s intelligence, knowledge, security and defence. Talk to a solution consultant at MailGuard today about securing your company's inboxes.
Stay up-to-date with MailGuard's latest blog posts by subscribing to free updates. Subscribe to weekly updates by clicking on the button below.
