Recently there is a surge on the number of Instagram account hacks. We notice an increase of 30% on the number of reported cases at our center since the beginning of 2025. This is alarming. And Instagram Official Help Center’s Hacked Form does not really work. It would send users into a loop, only offering generic information. This leaves the victims very helpless, not having any direct channel to submit their appeals.
99% of the cases that we have encountered, hacked accounts are always disabled. Hackers often changed email and password upon taking control of the account. And this increases the difficulty in recovery. Hackers always post scam messages immediately upon gaining control of the accounts and this led to the hacked accounts being disabled almost immediately. And in 30% of the cases that we handle, hackers would also access the linked accounts and the lead to the linked accounts being disabled too. For example, if a victim’s Instagram account is linked to FB account, then hacker could post to the linked FB account too, and this led to the FB account being disabled. In recent cases, we see some users’ thread account being disabled following Instagram account hack. This makes the damage even more serious.
We have put together this post to shed light on how accounts get hacked, what to do to get the account back and prevention tactics. We hope that this could provide help and support to the victims.
CONTENT INDEX:
- Recent Instagram Hacking Trends 2025
- How to Recover a Hacked Instagram Account
-Check Your Email for Instagram Notices
-If the hacker changed your email/phone-Use”Can’t reset your password” option
-Verify Your Identity-Selfie Video
-Verify Your Identity – Ask Friends for Confirmation - Appeal if Your Account Was Disabled
- Expert Hacked Account Recovery Service
- What to do when you get back your account
-Remove Hacker Changes and Update Security Settings - Best Practices to Prevent Future Hacks
-Never Click Strange Links
-Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
-Revoke Access to Third-Party Apps
-Consult IG HERO - FAQ
Recent Instagram Hacking Trends (2025)
Recently there is a surge on the number of Instagram accounts being hacked. Actually, hackers rely on phishing links as the main method of exploit, rather than technically “breaking into” Instagram accounts. So, it is very important for you to be aware of the common methods used in order not to fall victim to such schemes.
Common tactics include:
Phishing Emails and Fake “Instagram Support” Messages:
We want to highlight on the most common tactic here. Scammers impersonate Instagram with urgent notices – for example, you may receive an email or a DM on Instagram(seemingly sent from Instagram official), informing you that your account has been breached and you need to appeal immediately. A link would be included in the email. If you click on the link and then enter your credentials, your account would be taken over immediately.
Such phishing emails often direct victims to fake “login” page that steal their username, password and other credentials. Some sophisticated scams would even ask for two-factor authentication codes, thus letting hackers bypass 2FA protections. This is usually how people with 2FA lose their accounts.
How to Recover a Hacked Instagram Account (Step by Step)
If your account has been hacked, the first thing you should do is stay calm. We have helped many people to get back their accounts successfully. The key is to act quickly and to make appeals efficiently. Before you start, you should first ensure the safety of your other accounts: email account and FB account. You should change the password of your email account and FB account immediately and enable 2FA for FB account. This is because most hacks happen due to the victim entering credentials on a phishing link, and perhaps email password and FB password have been leaked as well. Based on our experience, some victims would also find that their email account and FB account being hacked after a short period of time, and this would make the recovery a lot more difficult, if not impossible. So, please make sure that you secure all other accounts before you start the recovery process.
Below is a detailed, step-by-step guide combining Instagram’s official instructions and proven community-sourced methods:
Check Your Email for Instagram Notices:
The moment you suspect a hack, open the email inbox linked/tied/associated to your Instagram. Look for any message from Instagram (security@mail.instagram.com) about account changes. Simply do a search within the email for any message from security@mail.instagram.com. Instagram often sends an email if your password got changed or a new email is linked to the account or a suspicious login activity has been detected. If you see an email saying “your email address was changed” and it wasn’t you, use the “revert this change” link in this email immediately.
This can potentially restore your account by rolling back the hacker’s email change. (Also check junk/spam folders just in case.) Acting within minutes or hours of that email can make a big difference.
If The Hacker Changed Your Email/Phone – Use “Can’t reset your password” option:
If the hacker has changed your email/phone, you would not be able to login and requesting login link would not work because Instagram’s emails would be sent to the hacker’s email address instead. So, here is what you should do:
– In the Forgot Password process, after entering your user/email/phone, tap “Can’t reset your password?” or “Need more help?” (these options appear in the app after the initial reset attempt)
This will lead you to Instagram’s account recovery form. You’ll be asked a series of questions: is the account personal or business, was it hacked, etc. Fill these out honestly.
Instagram may email you and request that you provide details to verify your ownership. For example, it may ask you for details like the original email, phone, or device you used to create the account. Provide the details as accurately as possible.
Verify Your Identity-Selfie Video:
Instagram would usually prompt you to make a selfie video during the appeal process. This helps Instagram confirm you’re a real person and match your face to your profile photos. Follow the in-app instructions to record the selfie video if prompted. Instagram will review the video – this could take between a day to weeks. If successful, Instagram would send you a link to reset your password and get back the control of your account.
Verify Your Identity – Ask Friends for Confirmation:
If you don’t have photos of yourself on the account (for example you are managing a business account, or your account is representing your child/a celebrity/your pet etc.), Instagram might let you choose trusted friends to verify you. You could pick a few Instagram friends, and they will receive a message with a code. You then have to get those codes from your friends and provide them to Instagram to confirm your identity. Once confirmed, Instagram will send you a recovery link.
Email or Phone Verification:
In some rare cases, Instagram may offer to send a code to your original email or phone number to verify it’s you. If you still have access to that email/number (and the hacker hasn’t changed it), choose this option. Enter the code you receive, or follow the instructions provided.
Follow whichever verification path is available and feasible. Many users try the selfie method first (as it’s automated) and, if that fails or is denied, try the friends or email method
Keep trying if a method doesn’t work the first time – for example, if your video selfie is not accepted, you can attempt it again under different lighting, or switch to another method.
Appeal if Your Account Was Disabled:
A lot times, hackers post fraudulent messages immediately and this leads to hacked accounts being disabled. If, upon trying to log in, you get a message that your account is disabled, you’ll need to go through different appeal process. This is because it would not be a simple “hacked” case anymore. You need to also appeal for the account to be recovered. Use the Ultimate Guide to help you manoeuvor through this complex appeal process.
Expert Recovery Help:
You could use The Ultimate Guide – How to Recover Disabled Instagram Account. It includes the guide for getting back hacked accounts, especially for hacked and disabled cases. This guide provides all the proven tactics, including using hidden Europe appeal channel, and the method to gain access to Meta live support. Our recovery specialist would also assist you should you run into any problem/issue.
What to do when you get back your account:
Remove Hacker Changes and Update Security Settings:
After regaining access, immediately check your profile settings for any changes the hacker made. Go to Settings > Account > Personal Information and ensure your email address and phone number are correct (change them back if needed). Also go to Settings > Security > Login Activity and log out any sessions or devices that you do not recognize (this will boot the hacker off if they’re still logged in somewhere). It is a good practice to switch the account to private mode while you check and make edits/removals.
If the hacker added their own email or phone number for backup, remove those. A lot of times the hackers would also link the Instagram account to their FB accounts. You need to check thoroughly and remove these if you find the links.
Best Practices to Prevent Future Hacks
Once you’ve got back your account, what should you do to prevent being hacked again in the future? We have compiled the best practice below for your reference.
Never Click Strange Links:
This is of the first and foremost importance. If you click on phishing links, nothing could save you. 2FA would also be redundant. So, the best thing is do is that whenever you receive a link, always assume that it is a phishing link. DO NOT click on it. And DO NOT ever key in your Instagram password on any link. No matter where you get the link, from your email, or from DM on Instagram app, always assume that it is a phishing link first. And then you double check to verify the authenticity of the link.
Now, please write this down. Instagram will NEVER DM you. If Instagram want to send notification to you, it would pop up on the app, or it would email you. It will never DM you. This is just not an option for their official notifications at all.
Instagram would email you. And the suffix is always instagram.com So if you receive email from addresses that have different suffix, it is fake.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) :
Preferably via an Authenticator App: This is the most effective defenses. Authenticator apps generate codes on your device that hackers can’t easily get hold of.
The benefit of using 2FA is that in the event your password is leaked, hacker still could not access your account. So this is an extra layer of protection.
Revoke Access to Third-Party Apps:
Regularly check which apps are authorized to access your Instagram. And if you see anything that looks suspicious or anything that you have not approved previously, remove them immediately.
Consult IG HERO
Whenever you are unsure, you could always contact us. We would be happy to help you verify the authenticity of the links you receive. You could message us on live chat or send us an email at support@ig-hero.com
By following these best practices, you significantly reduce the risk of losing your account due to hacks.
FAQ:
Q1: What should I do if the hacker changed my Instagram password and email?
A: Summarize: Go through the “Can’t reset password” identity verification process (see above) And you’ll need to prove ownership through a selfie video or detailed info because the usual reset links won’t reach you. Reassure that it’s still possible to recover in this scenario – many have done it.
Q2: How long does it take to recover a hacked Instagram account?
A: It can range from minutes (if you catch it immediately via email link) to weeks. We recommend that you actively appeal through as many channels as possible for at least 45 days. Please do not give up after just a few days. The average time it takes is about 15 days.
Q3: My Instagram account was deleted by the hacker – can I recover it?
A: If the hacker actually deleted your account (which is rare, often they lock you out but don’t delete, since a deleted account is no use to them), recovery is nearly impossible. Instagram states that once deleted (and 30 days passed), it’s gone
Based on our experience, the hackers usually change the hacked account name. And this may lead you to think that your account is deleted. But actually, it is not deleted, it is only changed to a different name.
Q4: How do I know if my Instagram was hacked (I’m not sure)?
A: You check your Instagram app for any notification about suspicious logins, and check your email for any message from security@mail.instagram.com for any notification about password change requests and/or suspicious login attempts. In any case, change your password immediately and activate 2FA.
Q5: Can I call Instagram or chat with Instagram support directly?
A: Instagram doesn’t have a phone support for hacked accounts. The official method is via the app (as we outlined) and via Instagram official website’s appeal forms. However, you may be eligible to use Meta support live chat or phone call service. The Ultimate Guide provides you the exact steps to take to chat to Meta support successfully.