A Chicago Compass broker and architect says Instagram isn’t helping her recover a business account after it was taken over by a scammer.
Nancy Gordon was locked out of her FancyHavenMaven account page on Feb. 7 after spending “plenty” of money promoting the 800-post account with listings and design tips, according to CBS 2 Chicago. She tried unsuccessfully to report the scam through Instagram’s app and then she emailed company executives and the accounting office.
“I have never, to this day, gotten a response from anyone,” Gordon said.
Instagram has become increasingly important for brokers as customers turn to online photos and virtual tours of listings. In 2018, Instagram was already generating more engagement than Facebook posts, although Facebook still garnered the most followers.
Gordon said she feels betrayed by Instagram and is frustrated that she can’t leave the platform, which has become an integral part of her business, whether it provides support for hacked accounts or not, CBS 2 reported.
“That there is zero help – and you can’t even report the problem – is there anything worse than that?” Gordon said. “This person is going to have control of my page forever.”
The hacker, who has scammed two of Gordon’s followers out of several thousands of dollars in a Bitcoin scheme, gained access to her account by first hacking a local store owner’s account and messaging Gordon, “Can I send you a link and you send it back to me.” Gordon agreed, thinking the owner wanted to order a product.
Gordon said she’s given up on recovering her account and has started a new page called Chicago Haven Maven.
Individual brokers aren’t the only ones dealing with data breaches. Last year, thousands of Douglas Elliman Property Management customers and employees had personal and financial information compromised after an “unauthorized party” gained access to the company’s IT system.
[CBS 2] – Harrison Connery