WhatsApp is often used by scammers on Instagram due to several factors that make it an appealing platform for fraudulent activity:

#1 – Encryption and Privacy WhatsApp offers end-to-end encryption, meaning only the sender and recipient can view the messages. Scammers exploit this feature, as it shields their communications from external scrutiny, making it harder for authorities or platforms to monitor or trace conversations.

#2 – Anonymity Unlike Instagram, which requires a public profile, WhatsApp users only need a phone number. This anonymity allows scammers to maintain multiple numbers and profiles, making it easier to disappear or change identities after a scam.

#3 – Global Reach WhatsApp is widely used internationally, making it easier for scammers to target victims across borders. Many Instagram users already use the app, so requesting communication there feels natural and not suspicious.

#4 – Luring to a Controlled Space Instagram’s built-in messaging may feel more secure or regulated, but once a scammer convinces a victim to move to WhatsApp, they control the conversation space. Instagram has mechanisms to flag fraudulent messages, but scammers can avoid these restrictions on WhatsApp.

#5 – Multi-Platform Fraud Scammers frequently use Instagram as a way to initiate contact and build trust. Once that initial step is accomplished, they ask victims to move to WhatsApp for further communication, where they feel safer to execute scams, such as investment fraud, romance scams, or phishing attacks.

By moving communication to WhatsApp, scammers can manipulate their targets in a more secure environment, leaving victims less likely to report them until it's too late.