Verified views and fraud checks

What counts as a verified view

• It is read from Instagram's official data for a creator's registered, public account.
• It is on an approved reel, during its tracking period.
• It passes our fraud checks.

Screenshots and scraped numbers never count.

What our checks look for

• A sudden jump in views far beyond the reel's normal pattern.
• Very low likes, comments, shares and saves for the number of views.
• Views far out of line with the account's followers.
• An audience that is mostly outside India.
• Accounts that share payout details or sign-up details with others.
• The same video posted again, by the same or other people.

A reel that trips these checks is reviewed by a person while its money is still in the hold. If a dispute or review is open on it, its earnings in hold are frozen until it is resolved.

Consequences

Bought views, bots, fake accounts and stolen content mean an immediate, permanent ban, and unpaid earnings are voided. Lesser problems lead to warnings or strikes. See Strikes and warnings.

Brands are protected twice: by these checks, and by their right to dispute while money is in hold. See Dispute a reel.