"Is this you in this video?" message scam
A message from a friend on Messenger, Instagram, or another app asks "is this you in this video?" with a link. Their account was likely hacked, and the link leads to a fake login page.
How this scam works
Curiosity and worry make you click. When you log in on the fake page, the scammer takes your account and sends the same message to your friends.
Common versions of the message
- A shocking "is this you?" message
- A link to a video
- A login page before you can watch
What the message looks like
Text from Mike (Messenger)
OMG is this you in this video?? Everyone is sharing it, you need to see this right now: http://video-share-view.top/watch?id=88213 then log in to watch it.
Fictional example based on common, publicly reported scam patterns.
The red flags
- 1
Shock bait: “is this you in this video??”
Made to make you click without thinking
The shock is the bait. It is designed to make you click without thinking.
- 2
Rushed: “right now”
Your friend may have been hacked
The rush is pressure. Your friend's account may have been hacked.
- 3
Fake site: “video-share-view.top”
It steals your login when you sign in
The link goes to a site that copies a real login page.
- 4
Asks for your login: “log in to watch it”
Real videos do not need you to log in again
A real video link does not make you log in again.
What to do
- Do not tap the link.
- Contact your friend another way to tell them their account may be hacked.
- Report the message in the app.
If you already replied, clicked, or paid
- If you logged in on the page, change that password right away and turn on two-step verification.
- Check your account for messages you did not send.
- Warn your contacts not to click links from you for now.
Got a message like this?
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