Instacart is an online grocery delivery service that allows customers to shop with different stores globally and with convenience. The service boasts tight security as a popular digital platform, but it does not mean your account cannot be hacked.
While this is never a good experience, customers are largely responsible for allowing hackers to breach their accounts. These fraudsters lure them via phishing emails, calls, and applications.
However, it is not the end. You can try to recover your account if you still have access to certain information. This guide will show you how and what to do if the process does not work.
You will also discover if someone can hack your Instacart account, what happens after the incident, and how to prevent such.
Can Someone Hack Your Instacart Account?
As I said earlier, customers are responsible for most successful hack attempts. This is usually due to negligence. Hackers use vices such as:
- Phishing: The act of sending fake emails or messages that appear to be from a trusted source to gain access to private information.
- Malware: Hackers also use viruses, trojans, and spyware to gain access or steal data without permission.
- Keyloggers: Malicious software that records keystrokes on your device and allows hackers to capture login credentials and other sensitive information.
On the other hand, Instacart may also be responsible for data breaches. While such events are becoming increasingly unlikely, they get managed effectively.
Why Do Hackers Target Instacart Accounts?
Hacked Instacart accounts grant fraudsters access to:
- Basic information such as your social security number to impersonate you and carry out dubious operations.
- Financial data like your credit card and other payment method information. They use these details to transfer funds and make unauthorized purchases.
- Free groceries for hackers who want to spend your money on Instacart or other grocery stores.
- Lastly, some do it for fun or to relieve boredom. They do it because they can and will likely not change your email so you can recover your account.
3 Ways to Know Your Instacart Account Has Been Hacked
Some of the events that will unfold after your account has been hacked include:
Unauthorized payments
One of the fastest ways to know your Instacart account has been hacked is when you get charged for unauthorized orders. In this case, you should contact your bank or credit card company.
Authorize them to freeze your account and then contact Instacart.
Emails from Instacart (may be recurrent)
Aside from transactional messages, Instacart also sends its account owner email for every purchase. This email confirms that you made the purchase and will update you on delivery proceedings.
Contact your bank immediately before contacting Instacart if you receive any of these emails without placing an order.
Unable to log in to your account
Once you start receiving notifications for unauthorized orders, instinct will push you to try and log into your account. If your login attempts fail, the hacker has changed your password.
Please note that technical glitches or signal strength can also be responsible for this, especially if no one is placing unauthorized orders. Nevertheless, contact Instacart if it persists and your bank once you notice any unsanctioned order.
How to Recover Your InstaCart Account
Fraudsters do 2 major things first after hacking an Instacart account:
- Change your password
- Change your password and email or mobile number linked to your account.
Fortunately, you can recover your Instacart account for both scenarios. Let’s discover how:
Recovering your account if the hacker changed your password
- Go to the official Instacart login page, preferably on the web.
- Tap the “Forget Password/Need Help?” button under the password field.
- Enter the email address or phone number linked to your Instacart account
- Instacart will send a login link (via SMS or email) with instructions on resetting or creating a new password.
- Once you’ve reset your password, try to log in to your account. A successful login attempt means you have recovered your account,
However, do not stop there. Contact Instacart about the hack attempt and explain what you did to recover your account. Ask them to review your account to be sure nothing malicious occurred when the hacker accessed it.
Recovering your Instacart account if the hacker changed your password and email or phone number
If you cannot log in and do not receive a password reset link after trying the method above, the hacker has changed your password and email/phone number.
The only solution is to contact Instacart’s support team immediately. You will be requested to provide documents and answer personal questions to verify your identity.
It is always best to undergo this procedure with the same device you register your account with or use frequently for shopping on Instacart. This speeds up the entire procedure.
For simplicity, here are the steps to take:
- Go to the Instacart “Help” or “Contact Us” page at the footer of their official website and click it.
- You will be presented with 2 options: Fill out a form or email them directly.
- Ensure you select “Account Issues” from the first drop-down menu (if you are filling out a form).
- Fill out the rest of the form with the appropriate information relating to your case.
- Explain why you are contacting them (if you are sending a direct email) and include as many details.
- Click “Submit/Send” and wait for a reply.
It may take a few hours to a few days to get a detailed response from Instacart.
Tips & Tricks To Speed Up Recovery Process
Aside from being very detailed and using the device you registered with, other ways you can speed up a recovery process include:
- Use the same phone number and network attached to your Instacart account.
- Include screenshots (if necessary).
- Contact Instacart support via their social media account. Sometimes, their social media help center responds faster.
- You can also create a Twitter or Reddit thread and tag Instacart for a response.
How To Prevent Your Instacart Account From Getting Hacked
While the best thing is to hope not to become a target for hackers, some measures can make your account difficult to hack. They include:
1. Use a unique password
Your password does not need to be generic for you to remember it. A unique password should contain letters, numbers, and symbols. Most hackers will have a tough time breaking down such passwords.
In addition, ensure you change your password regularly. The more you change it, the lesser the risk of getting hacked.
2. Don’t disclose identifying information
Hackers may try to call or send you an email, identifying themselves as Instacart to ask you questions that will make you disclose personal information. Instacart does not make such calls.
When they do, it is usually via the app. Do not respond to calls outside the app or contact them via the app after the initial (possibly fraudulent) call.
If the hacker sends an email, ensure you check the sender’s email address and the quality of the images on the mail. Phishing emails will feature a sender’s address similar to that of Instacart. You should be able to spot the difference if you take a closer look.
3. Engage in regular malware or virus scans
Customers should also scan their devices for malware and viruses. You only need to Download and install reliable antivirus software and schedule weekly or monthly scans for your device.
If the software discovers any malware or virus, follow its instructions to get rid of it. Feel free to contact Instacart support if you can not or if you notice certain (strange) operations on your Instacart account.
4. Don’t install applications from non-trusted sources
Most applications will require a certain degree of permission on your device. While they do this to enhance user experience, software from non-trusted sources may be used to access personal information or control your device.
Additional tips include:
- Learn the basics of Internet security
- Delete unused accounts
- Enable two-factor authentication(2FA)
FAQs
Can 2 people be logged into Instacart?
Only on a family account. Also, you can only add or remove up to 3 separate members within 60 days.
Can someone else use your Instacart card?
Yes, via the “Group Cart” feature. This feature lets you share your account with family members or colleagues, with all your transactions linked to one card.
Does Instacart have access to your private information?
Yes, but it will not steal or sell it.
In a Nutshell
No one (both account owners and Instacart) is completely immune to getting hacked. However, the odds are becoming increasingly lesser thanks to Instacart’s dedication towards tight online security.
Likewise, account owners are getting familiar with basic online security measures like calling only via the app and neglecting spammy messages. While a hacked account may be recovered, contact Instacart or your bank first.
I hope you found this guide helpful. If you did, please see how to identify a fake tracking number.
Thanks for reading.
