New York (CNN) A blue verified badge on Instagram is among the most sought after status symbols in the digital world, a must-have for many so-called influencers. The hackers have sent emails claiming to be from the "Instagram Verify Team," offering users the chance to apply for a verified check mark, the cybersecurity firm Trend Micro found. Trend Micro said that in one case it had seen the hackers threaten to delete an account unless the user pays a ransom or sends nude pictures or videos. "We've seen cases where owners of Instagram profiles with followers between 15,000 and 70,000 were hacked and were never retrieved. The victims ranged from famous actors and singers to owners of startup businesses like photoshoot equipment rentals," Trend Micro said in a blog post published Thursday.

Source: CNN March 01, 2019 18:22 UTC