Fake Instagram account preying on followers of popular Miami Kids Magazine

MIAMI – Within the latest days, somebody has created a social media account claiming to be the publishers of Miami Children Journal with the objective of scamming folks out of a whole lot of {dollars}.

CBS4’s personal Lauren Pastrana and her household as soon as graced the quilt.  

“Miami Children Journal is a parenting journal devoted for households to search out totally different locations to go, academic info,” stated writer Karla Richey.

However now, Richey and the Coral Gables Police Division are compelled to teach the general public about one thing extra sinister.

It is an Instagram rip-off preying on the favored South Florida publication’s almost 30,000 followers. The faux account’s deal with has an additional “i” in “miami.”

“It appears to be like very related, however they’ve a particular hyperlink that click on right here to say your prize or click on right here to go to our web site,” stated Sgt. Alejandro Escobar.

It is one thing Richey says they might by no means have you ever do in case you really received a prize.

“They’ve to come back to our workplace right here in Coral Gables and must carry their ID, signal paper that receiving prize we’re giving them,” Richey defined.

And it is a click on that would trigger an entire lot greater than embarrassment.

“Somebody with all this info can now begin taking out automotive loans, home loans, committing an entire bunch of fraud, identification theft,” stated Escobar.

Coral Gables PD stated they reached out to Instagram, however the faux account continues to be up.

One of the best factor to do in case you’ve been scammed is freeze your credit score report which raises a crimson flag.