Update: After three long weeks, I finally regained access to my hacked Instagram account. During this time, the attackers managed to defraud several of my followers.

What began as an ordinary day quickly spiraled into a costly ordeal, impacting my finances, well-being, and relationships.

While the experience has left me emotionally shattered, I’ve also gained valuable insights to share with you.

Let me recount the events that unfolded, and guide you to avoid making the same errors I did.

With over 4,000 followers accumulated over six years, I was devastated to see my online presence vanish in mere hours, all thanks to scammers who stole thousands from both me and my followers.

I have laid out the entire sequence of events regarding how my Instagram fell victim to a hack, along with my financial loss. Read on to learn how to protect yourself.

The Lure One day, while scrolling through my Instagram feed, I stumbled upon a post from my ex, John. It read:

“Unbelievable, I invested $500 and made $10,000 in just one day, all thanks to my mentor!”

My curiosity piqued; I was impressed! What would I do with such earnings? Unbeknownst to me, I was like a fish drawn to bait, soon to be ensnared.

Prior to this, I had never heard of cybercrime or social engineering. As such, I was completely oblivious to the danger.

It was a post from someone I knew well, and everything appeared normal. I had no reason to suspect foul play.

As a responsible adult with investment aspirations, I was inclined to trust the universe and take a chance.

I Bit the Hook and Reached Out to the 'Mentor' Her expertly crafted language was enticing.

We began a conversation where she requested a 10% commission for her services. She employed emotional language, asking me to “promise” her and to “spend some time with family.”

I found myself increasingly invested, envisioning gifts for my loved ones.

Eventually, I informed her that I needed time