I did get messages like this on insta. Luckily, I never gave out my personal infos and non of them are showed on my profile either. Not even my real name. I don’t trust random people and if they offer you something, it’s always suspicious. No matter if it’s free or money are involved, it’s always a scam. I always block them/report them/delete their message. I’m always cautious.
However, one time my American cousin wrote to me on insta that she launched her own clothing brand and will open a shop, too. I was so happy to read this because my cousin actually is interested in fashion and clothes. It seemed real. But things caught my eyes:
1) she addressed me by my full first name - which my cousin never does, 2) she was too bland, 3) she seemed to think that I live in the US - which is false, 4) she asked for my phone number - when in reality she knows it. I immediately knew what’s going on and it’s a scam and her account is hacked. I asked my other relative if they heard about our cousin’s new business. Ofc, no. I asked my cousin on Facebook if she is hacked, while at the same time, the person on insta told me she can’t contact my phone number and gives me a link to join her private group about the said clothing brand. I never clicked on the link and ofc, the phone number I gave was also false. She urged me to click on the link and 1 hour after asked again why I didn’t do it. That person was so eager to scam me.
At the end, I deleted my messages, even the fake phone number and blocked my cousin - who wasn’t her. 2 days later my real cousin wrote back to me on Facebook that she was hacked. Conclusion is that you don’t even trust your own family members if they ask for: - money, - your phone number, - your address.