I’m sure this is OK Boomer material, but here goes anyway.

I was looking for concert tickets a few months ago and found that the only way to buy them was via Instagram. I don’t recall formally setting up an Instagram account, but it seems I have some sort of access — although I don’t have the app and don’t visit the site.

But I keep getting notices that I have dozens of “followers” there. Which seems odd because I have no real presence there. I never post anything.

I am on Facebook, which I know is related.

What am I supposed to do?

Another OK Boomer here. I'm not on FB or Instagram, so can't help.

What do the notices look like? Are you getting them on facebook? Or in a text or email? Sometimes instagram tells me someone I follow on instagram is also on facebook (they are both owned by Meta). So it’s suggesting I friend them on facebook. Is it possible facebook is telling you you have friends who are also on instagram?

I am getting notices in regular email that “Xxxx and 26 other people are following you on Instagram”. Then it lists a few of them. To see than all I would have to log into Instagram. Of the 6 listed I already knew 5 from Facebook.

It’s just interesting to be followed when I posted no content.

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Originally posted by RealPlayer:
I am getting notices in regular email that “Xxxx and 26 other people are following you on Instagram”. Then it lists a few of them. To see than all I would have to log into Instagram. Of the 6 listed I already knew 5 from Facebook.

It’s just interesting to be followed when I posted no content.

If people are following you on Facebook then they might be getting you in their suggested follow list. Many people (myself included!) will follow folks they know on instagram even if they don’t have content, as long as they recognize the person. Do any of the followers on Instagram look like people you already know through Facebook?

Wonder if it’s a scam email trying to get you to click on a link?

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Originally posted by jodi:
Wonder if it’s a scam email trying to get you to click on a link?

No, it’s real. It says it came from Meta. No funny links.

I have an Instagram account that I use infrequently. I can never get the notifications to work, so I don't see when people follow me. When I log in, though, there are usually a few people I know, and a few obvious bots and trolls. (I can tell the bots and trolls because they either have a first name followed by a bunch of numbers or they are men in late middle age whose names are two first names (James George or Thomas Henry) and who claim to be Army generals or tech CEOs.

It's gotta be an algorithm thing. I follow back the people who I know or who look real, and I ignore the generals and CEOs seeking my favor.

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men in late middle age whose names are two first names (James George or Thomas Henry) and who claim to be Army generals or tech CEOs.

I get friend requests from those "guys" on FB all the time! The accounts are so funny (and so, so easy to spot as fake). They are always so perfectly handsome, and yes, with the improbable names and far-too-perfect jobs etc.

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Originally posted by ShiroKuro:

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men in late middle age whose names are two first names (James George or Thomas Henry) and who claim to be Army generals or tech CEOs.

I get friend requests from those "guys" on FB all the time! The accounts are so funny (and so, so easy to spot as fake). They are always so perfectly handsome, and yes, with the improbable names and far-too-perfect jobs etc.

And they’re usually widowers, with an adorable child! Don’t you just want to help out? Ughhhh. I get those all the time too. Block, or block and report, depending on. how egregious.

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Originally posted by ShiroKuro:

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men in late middle age whose names are two first names (James George or Thomas Henry) and who claim to be Army generals or tech CEOs.

I get friend requests from those "guys" on FB all the time! The accounts are so funny (and so, so easy to spot as fake). They are always so perfectly handsome, and yes, with the improbable names and far-too-perfect jobs etc.

An acquaintance of mine has had his image used to make dozens (possibly hundreds) of these accounts. I first remember him talking about at AT LEAST 5 years ago and the accounts are still popping up. All with the same basic structure…widowed, often in a professional job. I have had people with his image try to friend me at least twice over the years. I’ve also had several people try to friend me with a different guy’s photo (but different names etc).

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An acquaintance of mine has had his image used to make dozens (possibly hundreds) of these accounts.

He must be very handsome then.

Jokes aside, it's really awful though, to have your photo stolen and used like that!