UK relationship cheating scam targets partners via Instagram and Apple gift cards

What this scam looks like in practice

A variant of the infidelity-accusation scam is currently circulating in the UK, with at least one confirmed report submitted to the r/Scams community in late May 2026. The pattern is consistent: a stranger contacts a person out of the blue, usually via Instagram direct message or another messaging platform, and claims to have been in contact with their partner. The stranger says the partner has been unfaithful and offers fabricated screenshots as initial “proof”.

The screenshots are designed to create immediate emotional distress. However, as the report below illustrates, closer inspection reveals obvious signs of forgery, including missing timestamps and incomplete interface elements that any genuine Instagram conversation would contain.

How the scam escalates step by step

Understanding the mechanics helps you recognise the script before it goes further. The sequence typically runs as follows.

First, the scammer makes contact on a platform where direct messaging is easy and accounts are simple to create anonymously, such as Instagram. They open with a claim designed to provoke an emotional reaction, usually an accusation that your partner has been flirting or sending explicit messages.

Second, they share fabricated screenshots. These are produced using readily available template tools or screenshot editors and are intended to appear convincing at a glance rather than under scrutiny.

Third, once the target shows any sign of distress or engagement, the scammer introduces the demand. In the May 2026 UK report, this was £100 paid in Apple gift cards, supposedly in exchange for video call recordings that would serve as definitive evidence of the alleged infidelity.

Fourth, if payment is made, the scammer either disappears immediately or attempts a follow-up demand for a larger sum, claiming the first payment covered only part of the evidence.

Why Apple gift cards are the payment method of choice

Gift cards are the payment mechanism of choice for a wide range of fraud types precisely because they cannot be reversed. Once a recipient has the card code and redeems it, the money is gone. There is no equivalent of a bank recall, a chargeback, or a payment dispute.

Apple gift cards are particularly popular with fraudsters because they are widely available in supermarkets, petrol stations, and newsagents across the UK, meaning a victim can purchase one quickly without needing to make an unusual bank transaction that might trigger a fraud warning.

Which? and Action Fraud both note that any request to pay for something using gift card codes, from any stranger regardless of the context, should be treated as a scam. Legitimate individuals, businesses, and certainly law enforcement agencies never request payment this way. See Which?’s guidance on spotting scams for a broader overview of red flags.

How to identify fake screenshots

The May 2026 victim noticed that the screenshots lacked basic metadata, specifically the date and time that Instagram displays on every message. This is one of the most reliable ways to spot a fabricated conversation.

Additional things to look for when assessing any screenshot sent by a stranger include:

• Missing timestamps. Every genuine Instagram message thread shows a time and date for each message or group of messages.
• Inconsistent fonts or spacing. Screenshot editors sometimes introduce subtle differences in typeface weight or character spacing that differ from the genuine app.
• No read receipts or reaction indicators. Real conversations often include “Seen” confirmations or emoji reactions. These are harder to fake convincingly.
• Profile pictures that do not match public accounts. If you can find the supposed account publicly, compare every visible detail.
• Incomplete interface chrome. Genuine screenshots usually include the top navigation bar, the back arrow, and the call icons. Cropped or edited fakes often remove these because they contain identifiable information the scammer wants to hide.

If you have independent access to your partner’s Instagram account, checking it directly, as the original UK reporter noted they could have done, is the fastest way to confirm there is no genuine conversation.

Why this scam is psychologically effective

Relationship scams of this type exploit a specific emotional vulnerability that operates faster than rational assessment. Receiving an unexpected accusation about a partner triggers anxiety before the logical part of the response has time to evaluate the credibility of the source.

Scammers rely on this window of distress to push for rapid action, specifically the purchase and transfer of a gift card, before the target has time to calm down, verify the claim, or speak to the partner directly. The urgency is manufactured and deliberate.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) advises that whenever a message provokes a strong emotional response and simultaneously requests urgent payment or personal information, that combination is itself a warning sign regardless of the content. See the NCSC guidance on suspicious messages for further context.

What to do if you receive a message like this

If you receive an unsolicited message from a stranger claiming to have evidence of your partner’s infidelity and requesting payment, the recommended steps are as follows.

1. Do not respond to the stranger or engage further.
2. Do not purchase any gift cards or make any payment of any kind.
3. Check any claimed accounts or conversations independently and directly.
4. Screenshot the scam message for your own records, including the sender’s username or number.
5. Report the message to Action Fraud online at actionfraud.police.uk or by phone on 0300 123 2040.
6. Report the Instagram account using the platform’s built-in reporting function.
7. If the contact came via SMS or a messaging app linked to a phone number, forward the message to 7726, the free shortcode operated by UK mobile networks for reporting smishing and suspicious texts.

If you have already paid, contact Action Fraud immediately and also call Apple Support to report the gift card codes. Apple may be able to prevent redemption if the codes have not yet been used, though this window is narrow.

How to report and where to get help

The principal reporting channels for this type of fraud in the UK are:

• Action Fraud: 0300 123 2040 or actionfraud.police.uk. The UK’s national fraud and cybercrime reporting centre, run in partnership with the City of London Police.
• 7726 (SPAM): Forward any suspicious text or messaging app content to this free shortcode. It is accepted by all major UK mobile operators and feeds into Ofcom and operator-level blocking systems.
• Instagram: Use the “Report” option on the message or profile directly within the app. Select “Scam or fraud” from the menu.
• Citizens Advice Scams Action: Available at citizensadvice.org.uk for additional consumer guidance and emotional support if the experience has been distressing.

For more on how mobile-based fraud operates and how to protect yourself, visit the Mobile scams hub on this site.

The broader picture of gift card fraud in the UK

Gift card fraud is not limited to relationship scams. The same payment mechanism appears in HMRC tax refund scams, parcel delivery scams, and tech support fraud. Figures on the precise scale of gift card fraud in the UK are pending verification from Ofcom and Action Fraud’s annual reporting, but the consistent presence of gift card demands across multiple fraud categories reflects how effective the method is for criminals.

The common thread across all variants is the same: a stranger, an urgent and emotionally loaded claim, and a request for an irreversible payment. Recognising that pattern, whatever the surface story, is the most reliable defence available. For related reading, see our article on how to spot a mobile payment scam for further guidance on protecting yourself across different fraud types.