Okay so here's the complete story of how my instagram account (with almost 14K followers) got hacked and hijacked by a bitcoin scammer. To sadly say conclusively it's pretty much toast, and I'm in the process of rebuilding new redundant accounts.

Earlier last year (as I usually get lots of) my inbox gets often flooded with DM requests, many from bots which always get reported and blocked.

Then one of my favorite space accounts I was following for a long time (Space Hero Mission ) sends me a DM asking about his 'recent investment" in bitcoin forex trading, after he apparently made a post about his apparent 'success'. I at first suspected his account was hacked, but I was ignorant at the time to fully conclude this. He began messaging me, and out of curioisity I ended up entertainining the conversation. He then points out to the trader broker he used, by the name of "Kimberly Mills" who had an instagram account since 2015, and over 7,000 followers.

But I did my homework and google reverse-image searched her profile picture and name, and strangely I found nothing, nothing indicating the profile was using stolen photos of a black female model, and searching comments, and even using the UK's companies house government website for info about her trading business that goes by the name of "Expert Options". Further more I also searched that buisness name, and found no google or forum articles indicating any scam or fraud. This at first seemed legit (but unfortunally I wish that were true).

Kim then messaged me, asking me to sign up to the website and set up a trading profile and BTC wallet address, which not only appeared to have worked, but also displayed professional looking GUI and features, and a secure connection lock appearing in my browser. She stated just send a deposit of $1,000, and within three days it'll grow to ten times that, with a 10% commission. After depositing it in installments over the course of eight weeks, Kimberly Mills then initiates the process of 'forex' trading, and three days later, the returned sum came to $33,000.

But there's a cach (yes in these scams there always is a catch). The company (on Kim's behalf) later stated a $5,000 fee was needed from me, but I refused to pay that, and she tried manipulating me, but unlike most of these typical scams, she worded it VERY SCARILLY PROFESSIONAL, and later after I muted the whatsapp conversation for several weeks, she deciced to pay the sum in full.

In December 2021, Space hero mission sends me a post, and a DM, explaining that he managed to recover his account from the bitcoin scammer that messaged me, but he did not tell me abythin to do with Kimberly Mills as the entire text thread was erased.

Then on Febuary 6, 2022, she texts me one last time to setup coinbase, but she asked repeatedly for me to give out my login details so that "we could both have access to recieve my profit". But to boost the maximum account withdrawal limit set by coinbase, another £1000 GBP deposit was needed, as well as an instagram popup link to "apparently verify my identity" .... and unfortuanlly I paid it. That link turned out to be a phishing link.

At 7:05 am UTC time on Febuary 6, I lost acceess to my instagram account, causing a very severe panick. I let my fanbase know the hacking situation, and immideately built two new redundant accounts to re-establish my online space presence on IG (one personal and one for space posts).

Later that day Kimberly explains that the website was attacked by some sort of cyber breach and she sincerely apologizes for the loss of my instagram, and that they're working to get it back, but she then stated just complete the Coinbase deposit soon so that I can feel happy. Unfortunately I ended up payin that sum, two days later, and now she's disappeared.

Unlike most people who have encountered Bitcoin scams which are plain obvious from day one, this one I've experienced is by far the much rarer, and more importantly THE MOST DANGEROUS!!! of all. These scammers originating in the UK are very smart, highly manipulative, and they target instagram accounts posting space related content.

I messaged the recoverered Space Hero Mission IG account, and he stated he lost lots of cash (maybe at least $3000) to Kimberly Mills over various "fee and deposit" payments. But because he has a real and successful amateur photography buisness, he was able to recoup and recover that loss, and thanfully with my current well-paying job, as well as my ISS book, Youtube and other projects on the way, I'll recover from this mess myself. But honestly this financial nightmare and emotional trauma has been shell shocking, and i warn anyone who is approached by someone online with the name of "Kimberly Mills" — avoid at all costs.