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Is This Instacart Email a Scam? How to Tell

Instacart scams target both shoppers and customers with fake order notifications, shopper payment phishing, and fraudulent account verification requests.

Reviewed by the Cautellus team · Last updated May 30, 2026

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Common Instacart Scam Types

Order notification phishing

Shopper payment verification scams

Account verification phishing

Fake promotional credits

Example Scam Messages

These are examples of fake messages impersonating Instacart. Never click links in unsolicited messages.

“Instacart: Your order requires payment verification. Update at instacart-verify.com”

“Instacart Shopper: Your weekly payment is on hold. Verify at instacart-pay.com”

Red Flags to Watch For

Payment verification from non-instacart.com domains
Shopper payment holds requiring external verification
Account alerts from suspicious email addresses
Promotional credits requiring personal information

Legitimate Instacart Contact Info

Visit instacart.com/help for support. Instacart manages all transactions through the app.

Where to Report a Instacart Scam

If you received or fell for a fake Instacart message, report it to the authorities below. Reporting helps investigators track these campaigns.

FTC — reportfraud.ftc.govReport fraud and scams to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.
FBI IC3 — ic3.govFile a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
Cautellus reporting guide →Step-by-step help on who to contact and how to recover.