Fake Instagram Shop | “elka_beeest”

Scammers disguise themselves as Instagram stores selling Christmas trees and holiday products.

As New Year approaches, social media becomes flooded with advertisements for Christmas trees and festive decorations. Taking advantage of seasonal demand, fraudsters create pages with a wide assortment of products and attractive offers.

These fake sellers lure buyers with low prices, promise fast delivery and typically demand 100% prepayment. After the money is transferred, no holiday miracle occurs: the seller disappears, and the buyer is left without both the goods and the money.

Before making a payment, check the seller for common warning signs of fraud:

• comments are disabled;
• account tagging is restricted;
• 100% prepayment is required;
• the account location is hidden or listed in another country;
• there is no warehouse, physical store or other evidence of a real business.