David Bridges
An Instagram user has told FIJ that the Owlet, a social media marketing service provider, has failed to deliver the 2,000 followers she paid for in August.
The user said she registered on the platform and placed two orders to buy 1,000 followers for a client who had paid her to help with the transaction.
She said the plan she subscribed to was for Nigerian accounts which sell for a little under N5,000 per 1,000 followers. After waiting for the stipulated three days, she grew impatient and made a complaint.
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“I sent them a mail but they blamed me for placing two orders when the first one was yet to be delivered,” she told FIJ. “I asked them to refund so I could get the followers somewhere else but they said ‘in due time’. Now they are not replying.”
On September 1, the company mailed her to say the delay was due to Instagram policies and her order would take more time than expected.
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On September 6, the company replied her again, saying, “The reason for this issue on your orders is because you placed multiple orders on the same links when they still had pending orders.”
FIJ made calls to a phone number available on the company’s website, but as of press time, it was switched off. FIJ also sent a message to the company’s Instagram handle, but as of press time, they had not responded.
Instagram’s community guidelines forbid buying of followers. They read in part, ”Don’t offer money or giveaways of money in exchange for likes, followers, comments or other engagement. Don’t post content that engages in, promotes, encourages, facilitates, or admits to the offering, solicitation or trade of fake and misleading user reviews or ratings.”
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Ivy Caldwell
Sophie Langley
