Instagram Influencer Loses ₹50 Lakh in Fake Copyright Scam
In a landmark cybercrime case from Jabalpur, social media influencer Azim Ahmed with 57 million followers has lost ₹50 lakh to fraudsters threatening to delete his Instagram accounts through fake copyright strikes.
Key Takeaways
- 28-year-old influencer extorted of ₹50 lakh through fake copyright threats
- Fraudsters threatened to get his 96 Instagram pages banned
- Cyber police confirm new form of crime exploiting platform systems
- Authorities collaborating with Instagram security team
Building a Digital Empire
Azim Ahmed, a software engineer-turned-entrepreneur, built his massive online presence from scratch starting in 2017. His following grew rapidly during the 2021 Covid lockdown, eventually reaching 57 million followers across 96 Instagram pages. He later co-founded digital marketing startup Whoopy Digital with friends.
Year-Long Extortion Campaign
“For almost a year, I’ve been receiving fake copyright strikes and threats,” Ahmed revealed. “They claim my posts violate their content rights and demand money, warning that my accounts will be deleted.”
Fearing the loss of his livelihood, Ahmed complied with the extortionists’ demands multiple times, eventually paying ₹50 lakh total. The threats escalated to phone calls and fake emails mimicking Instagram’s official communication.
“They call themselves mediators. One caller from Pune demanded ₹25,000 to ₹30,000 to remove fake strikes,” Ahmed said.
New Cybercrime Pattern
Jabalpur Cyber Cell in-charge Neerj Negi confirmed this represents a new form of cybercrime exploiting social media automation.
“Fraudsters are using fake copyright strikes to threaten influencers. If multiple strikes are filed, Instagram’s system can suspend the account,” Negi explained.
Investigation Underway
Authorities are now working with Instagram’s internal security team to trace how these fake bans are being triggered and identify those behind the extortion racket. The case highlights growing threats facing digital creators.
