This fake 48% OFF coupon message is fooling Instagram users. Here how I spotted it.
I receive an Instagram DM on 09 January 2026 that nearly caught me off guard, & I want to share what I found before anyone else for it.
The message came from an account call By Ferne. with the username by_ferne on Instagram. The profile show 825 followers and 92 posts. It even said “You follow each other on Instagram” and “You both follow rubyrose_mm and 3 others” which made it seem trustworthy at first.
The message said “Hey! Hey! Here’s a 48% OFF coupon just for you, valid till the end of January! Shop now https://shorturl.at/uBIAV/ Use code: miab-484”
I almost clicked. Then I looked closer.
The Word “Hey!” Is Repeated Twice
The very first thing I noticed was the message starts with “Hey! Hey!” – the word is typed twice. This is a classic sign of copy-paste error or bot-generated text. A real business owner sending personalized messages would never make such an obvious mistake. It shows the sender is mass-messaging people without checking the content.
The Discount Is Suspiciously High
The message offers 48% OFF which is an extremely unusual percentage. Think about it when was the last time you saw a legitimate store offer exactly 48% off, Real business use standard discount number like 10%, 20%, 25%, 30%, or 50%. The random 48% suggest this number was made up to sound attractive but specific enough to seem real.
The Coupon Code Looks Random
The code miab-484 follows a suspicious pattern. Many scam messages use similar formats with random letters and numbers. I search for this code online and found no legitimate retailer using it. Real coupon codes from establish brand are usually recognizable and can be verify on official websites.
I Investigated Further
I searched for “miab” on Google to verify if this was connected to a real business. The search results showed a website called https://miab-jewels.com/en-int which is a jewelry store. I visited this official MIAB Jewels website and tried to apply the miab-484 coupon code at checkout.
The coupon code did not work.
The code miab-484 is not a verified coupon on the official MIAB Jewels website. This confirm that the Instagram message is using the MIAB brand name to trick people, but the discount code is complete fake. Scammers are impersonation or associating with real brands to appear legitimate.
This message is a scam.
How to Protect Yourself
- Do not click the shorturl.at link in this message. Shortened URLs can lead anywhere and may download malware or take you to phishing sites.
- Do not use the miab-484 code on any website. Even if the site looks legitimate, entering this code may trigger data collection.
- Do not reply to the message. Respond confirm your account is active and may lead to more scam attempt.
- Do not share personal information, payment detail, or login credential with anyone who contact you this way.
- Do verify any discount offer by visit official websites directly. Never click link in unsolicited DMs.
- Do report the account to Instagram for spam or phishing if you receive this message.
- Do warn your friends and followers, especially if you see mutual connections with the suspicious account.
“I spotted the warning signs. I hope you do too.”
