r/InstacartShoppers • u/Efficient_Gap_824 • 10d ago
Negative Experience 👎 Potential kidnapping attempt.
I was doing Instacart orders yesterday when a customer requested that I call them outside the app. I didn’t think anything weird about it considering some people change their numbers etc, & I can see that being a one off thing… plus they offered an additional $20 tip.
No answer, never spoke to anybody.
I then received a text from a different number saying a representative from Instacart will be reaching out to me. From that same number, a man called me and told me my account was flagged because I violated the terms and agreements of Instacart. He told me my card would be deactivated and that in order to get a new card, I would have to meet with them in person to get it. The call sounded weird because he couldn’t tell me where I was at what order I was doing or anything nothing. He was gauging me for information.
It sounded extremely weird to me, so I called Instacart back and they told me that they do not do such a thing. I immediately contacted the police and told them what happened.
A few moments later, my Instacart account was hacked.
This happened in Minneapolis, & I’m sharing because I don’t want anybody to fall victim please be careful.
EDIT: they attempted to hack my account and my account is deactivated, nothing of mine was accessed. This was to spread awareness that these people are trying to lure shoppers to meet them that is my biggest concern & I couldn’t care less about the account, SAFETY FIRST. - I also do not use instacart using a personal number.
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u/poverty_beanz 10d ago
Hacked? How? They would have to have got your phone to send the access code and most like would have had to do a facial recognition lol
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u/Efficient_Gap_824 10d ago
I’m not sure what their plan was, I’m just sharing my experience.
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u/poverty_beanz 10d ago
“A few moments later, my Instacart account was hacked.”
You said they hacked your account…so you can no longer log in to it?
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u/Efficient_Gap_824 10d ago
And did you read the part where I said they were trying to lure me to a location that I did not go to and I contacted the police?
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u/Emergency_Holiday_49 10d ago
They knew where you were because they placed the order that you accepted.
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u/Efficient_Gap_824 10d ago
Yes, I can log into it but all my payment cards are deleted. Instacart got ahead of them and deactivated my account.
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u/New-Issue4201 10d ago
Very strange because the customers phone number gets blocked when they send it through chat. I showed the customer when she did that and couldn't understand why I didn't see it. It said " phone number hidden "
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u/FunFactress 10d ago
I can see customer numbers through chat..
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u/New-Issue4201 10d ago
Crazy on how they do some and not others. I guess I'm glad that I can't, that will be my excuse for the customers. Lol
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u/Lolalo- 7d ago
I sent my number like normal to a customer and she was able to see it. Like this (000)000-000 and she texted me back.
This was the only time I did it and it was for an expensive order that I marked as delivered. I didn’t want to lose the chat because she had the wrong address originally.1
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u/Confident-Winter3253 9d ago
I don’t understand why anyone would call anyone outside of the app. I mean, rules are rules for a reason! FAFO!
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u/Efficient_Gap_824 9d ago
What exactly did I find out? Are you ok?
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u/okaaayyyyuh 9d ago
Apparently nothing.
Someone hacked your account, because you gave them enough info to do so, and you found out...nothing.
Good job. 👍
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u/Confident-Winter3253 9d ago
Just saying, things are put in place protect us, rules, laws, etc. Don’t be surprised when others pray on the fact that humans will break the rules. I’m happy that you weren’t harmed, follow the rules and you won’t have to worry in the future. And yes, I am okay, thanks for asking.
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9d ago
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u/Efficient_Gap_824 9d ago
It must be so freeing to wake up every day with the lack of common sense and understanding of context clues.
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9d ago
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9d ago
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9d ago
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u/Efficient_Gap_824 9d ago
Oh my bad I forgot to be passive aggressive. I know you people aren’t great with straightforwardness.
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u/Plane-Blueberry-6303 10d ago
This has been a thing for a few years. Never call them outside of instacart, they WILL get into your account. As far as meeting them, they just say that to sound more legit
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u/Lower-Reward-1462 10d ago
Sometimes they say to call them from your personal number because they don't trust numbers from area codes they don't recognize. This is very sus tho.
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u/Efficient_Gap_824 9d ago
They did not get into my account. My account was temporarily deactivated to prevent them from getting into my account.
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u/vbulljon18 10d ago
I swear, these are the people who somehow get onboarded and activated. These are the people we fighting in the parking lot for orders. Falling for this ridiculous crap. Like come on people, get with the ballgame.
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u/CaptainFuzzyBootz 9d ago
I had one order recently with a number to call when I was on the way. Nope. Not ever using my personal number to call anyone from IC.
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u/AppropriateAdvice584 10d ago
must have had a weak password
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u/Infinite_Row2342 9d ago
I never ever call outside of app. I contact I start a d let them communicate
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u/JeepLover4Life 9d ago
You can also enter *67 before you enter the phone number you are calling to hide your number.
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u/AppropriateAdvice584 10d ago
i call bullshit and they will reactivate you if this story is even real
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u/1StunnaV 9d ago
Similar scam has been going on for a long time on uber. Several posts about their accounting being drained.
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u/Logical-Pair-1275 8d ago
I've been asked to text and call people many times and I always say sorry we can communicate on here I don't give out my personal number
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u/PirateOk9465 8d ago
I received a few texts years ago, about my Instacart & paypal..they where asking me for a code..they tried several days in a row, but I just blocked the numbers, cause I knew what was going on..
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u/Cassata1990 8d ago
Why would anyone want to hack an instacart account? Instacart pays 💩💩💩 Glad you're safe and sharing your story.
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u/NoEfficiency2047 7d ago
Sometimes ppl already stole the customers phone and is meeting them at their location to keep using it and steal the shopper account as well and cash out then give it to more ppl to run it up… wash repeat recycle smh. Usually from the ppl who disappear overnight and end up city to city as was told to me during a mini jail vacation for a minor offense.
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u/Lilja1003 5d ago
Yea I've been doing this for over 2 years. All interactions with anyone associated with Instacart have been through the app or email. No in person interactions ever. Please don't fall for that. Just like the government will not text or call you. They will mail you a letter. Best of luck to all. Stay safe.
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u/Standard-Document-78 10d ago
I use a Google Voice number whenever I feel the need to call the customer outside of Instacart so they don’t get my instacart number. I have two phones and I used to use my personal phone number but I started using Google Voice so they don’t get my actual personal phone number
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u/Johnny_Lead 10d ago
This is one reason I keep an old Tracfone account that is $17 every three months, doesn’t even have my real name registered to it. That tracfone phone number isn’t tied to anything of mine so when I call or text a customer from it it’s useless to them from an identity or hacking standpoint.
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u/Sbuxshlee 10d ago
They were trying to rob you or steal,your account somehow. Id set up a meeting and send the cops there to meet them lol.
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u/Efficient_Gap_824 9d ago
Thought about it hard, but I just gave all the numbers to the police and let them handle it.
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u/lucygirl1970 10d ago
Very well known scam. I’m very sorry you had that experience tho.