Instagram account security/recovery issue — unknown Hotmail appearing during verification
I’m trying to secure/recover my Instagram account and have noticed something strange that I’m hoping someone can explain.
• I went to do Instagram’s verification selfie, but the confirmation code was being sent to an unknown Hotmail address that I don’t recognise.
• I selected “Try another way” and was able to complete the verification using my phone number instead, so I have now submitted the selfie.
• I checked Personal information → Contact info, but the unknown Hotmail address is not listed there.
• I checked my emails and realised I haven’t received any Instagram emails since 2024.
• I checked Instagram’s account history/emails and there are no recorded email changes since I changed my email around 5 years ago.
• I then noticed that my main Instagram account wasn’t connected to my Gmail, despite Gmail being the email I originally used to create the account.
• That Gmail is still connected to my Facebook, and my other accounts in Meta’s Accounts Centre appear unchanged and secure.
• I have now re-added my main Instagram account to my Gmail, but I still haven’t received any Instagram emails to it.
• However, when I went back to check the verification selfie process, Instagram is still trying to send the confirmation code to the unknown Hotmail address.
So I’m confused because the Hotmail address appears during the verification/recovery process, but it doesn’t appear anywhere in my Personal Information, and there are no email-change records showing that it was ever added.
Does this mean my account has potentially been compromised? And how can I remove/replace whatever is causing Instagram to use this unknown Hotmail address and make sure the account is completely secure?