Do not pay
Payment seldom restores access and often leads to more demands.
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Hacker wants money to give your Instagram back?
This is a scam on top of a hack. Paying seldom returns the account and often brings more demands.
If someone who holds your account asks for payment to return it, do not pay. Nothing says the account comes back, and it often leads to further demands. Report the messages, document them, and use the official hacked-account recovery flow. If the hacker threatens to publish private content, tell the police.
Save the messages
Screenshots help with reports and any police report.
Use the official route
The selfie flow is the genuine way back.
How the demand works
- The hacker keeps the account and asks for a fee.
- Some pose as helpers who say they can restore it for money.
- Others threaten to delete or publish content.
- After a payment the account may not be returned.
The same applies to offers from strangers who say they can get your account back for a fee through private contacts.
What to do
- Stop replying to the person and keep the messages.
- Report the account and messages as scams.
- Start the hacked-account recovery flow with the selfie steps.
- If threats are involved, contact the police and tell us what you can share.
What to send
- Your Instagram username (the public @handle).
- A screenshot of the notice or error, with the date visible.
- Which email address or phone number is on the account (just which one, never a code).
- What happened in the days before it started, in a few lines.
Please do not send passwords, login codes, card numbers or access tokens.
How it works with Unbanz
- Message us on WhatsApp or email with your Instagram username and what you can still see or do.
- We tell you honestly whether this is something we can help with.
- We map the recovery routes that fit what the hacker changed and prepare the reports.
- We stay in touch while you wait. Meta makes the final decision, and nobody can promise the outcome.
Who this is for
- People who received a ransom message.
- Owners tempted by offers from strangers.
- Anyone holding evidence they want to report.
Staying safe
Nobody needs your password or login codes to help you. If someone in your DMs offers to fix it, asks you to log in through their link, or wants to be paid in gift cards, walk away. Unbanz never asks for logins. We are an independent paid service, not affiliated with Meta: payment is upfront, with a 100% refund if the case fails. For Facebook and Instagram cases we work through our contacts at Meta, and Meta makes the final decision.
Questions people also ask (2026)
Hacked and then disabled: which comes first?
Start with the hacked route (instagram.com/hacked or facebook.com/hacked), not the normal appeal, so the record shows the account was taken. Secure the linked email and phone first, then appeal the disable if a button appears. Report the scam where you live (table below).
What if a hacker changed the email and phone?
Check the old inbox for a security email from Meta about the change. It can include a link to undo it. On Instagram, use “My login details were changed” in the login help, or instagram.com/hacked.
Does a recognised device help?
Often, yes. Meta may trust a phone, browser or network you have used to log in before, so try recovery from that device and connection rather than a new one.
About Unbanz
Unbanz (unbanz.com) is an independent service that helps people, businesses and agencies with Instagram and Facebook account unbans, username claims, and Meta ad account recovery. Contact: WhatsApp +1 934 201 2490 or team@unbanz.com. Not affiliated with Meta.
CLIENTS
What clients say
Transcript
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QUICK ANSWERS
Good to know.
Can the hacker be reported?
Yes. Report the messages and the profile through the app, and keep screenshots.
Does Unbanz ask for logins or card details?
No. We never ask for your login or card details in messages. Beware anyone who does.
Will recovery work after a demand?
The official route does not depend on what the hacker says. It depends on verifying you.
Do I need to share my Instagram password?
No. Your password and login codes stay with you. Unbanz works from your public username, the notice and the details you send. Anyone who asks for your login is not someone to work with.
How do I contact Unbanz about a hacked Instagram account?
WhatsApp +1 934 201 2490 or email team@unbanz.com. Send your username and a screenshot of the notice, if there is one.