A Lot Of People Are Falling For An Instagram Hoax Offering Free Flights
Remember, everyone: Nothing is real.
If you're on Instagram you may recently have noticed people you follow sharing these accounts claiming to offer free Ryanair and easyJet flights.
Seems a bit too good to be true doesn't it?
One clue that the offer may not be genuine is the way the RyanAir_UK account keeps on changing the amount of followers that will be eligible for the free flights.
Another is that Ryanair is obviously an Irish company, with its headquarters located in Dublin, not the UK.
And another is that Ryanair doesn't have a capped-up A.
But that hasn't stopped a lot of people following the fake accounts and asking the airlines on Twitter why they haven't received their free flights.
@Ryanair how do i claim my free tickets for instagram?
Joshua Hancock-Brown@pompeyjosh1990Follow
@Ryanair how do i claim my free tickets for instagram?
10:38 AM - 05 Oct 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
Actually recon this easyjet instagram account is real me you know.
Sam@samwilsonnnnnFollow
Actually recon this easyjet instagram account is real me you know.
11:01 PM - 06 Oct 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
Some people appear to have been in on the joke.
Where's my two free tickets then @easyJet for being in the top 3000 followers on Instagram!?...I have a date with Amsterdam!
Scott Fowler@scottfowler360Follow
Where's my two free tickets then @easyJet for being in the top 3000 followers on Instagram!?...I have a date with Amsterdam!
8:25 AM - 07 Oct 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
But most have been desperate to know if the offer is real.
@Ryanair Hi, is your Instagram account offer with first 2000 followers get 2 free tickets for an EU flight for real?
Rebecca Emery@onesugarpleaseFollow
@Ryanair Hi, is your Instagram account offer with first 2000 followers get 2 free tickets for an EU flight for real?
9:12 AM - 07 Oct 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
Is this @easyJet Instagram promo competition for real? If so, give us some T&Cs man! #easyjet #instagram
? Ayah Marar ?@AyahMararFollow
Is this @easyJet Instagram promo competition for real? If so, give us some T&Cs man! #easyjet #instagram
10:18 AM - 05 Oct 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
Unfortunately for everyone who followed and shared the accounts, the airlines eventually confirmed the inevitable.
@twilkin Hi Tom, we do not have an account in Instagram. Thank You. AA
Ryanair@RyanairFollow
@twilkin Hi Tom, we do not have an account in Instagram. Thank You. AA
10:58 AM - 05 Oct 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
#Ryanair is on Twitter, @Ryanair, YouTube http://t.co/yatPBlsuaV, & LinkedIn http://t.co/lxNeUetktV. We're not yet active on other platforms
#Ryanair is on Twitter, @Ryanair, YouTube http://t.co/yatPBlsuaV, & LinkedIn http://t.co/lxNeUetktV. We're not yet active on other platforms
11:11 AM - 05 Oct 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
Hi everyone, unfortunately we’ve had a few fake Instagram accounts pop up. For all official updates please follow @easyJet. Thanks
easyJet@easyJetFollow
Hi everyone, unfortunately we’ve had a few fake Instagram accounts pop up. For all official updates please follow @easyJet. Thanks
5:00 PM - 06 Oct 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
Sorry everyone.
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Richard James is the News Director for BuzzFeed Australia and is based in Sydney.
Contact Richard James at richard.james@buzzfeed.com.
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