An official-looking notice lands in your inbox or DMs: your post, video, or page has received a copyright strike, and your account will be removed unless you “resolve” it through the link, fast. For creators and businesses, a strike feels like an emergency. That panic is exactly what the scam is engineered to produce. Our GetMyPassword team explains how to recognize a fake copyright strike scam.
How the scam works
You receive a message posing as the platform, a law firm, or a brand’s “copyright team,” claiming your content infringes copyright and threatening strikes, takedowns, or account termination unless you act immediately. The link leads to a fake “dispute” or “verification” form that harvests your login and two-factor code, or to a page that installs malware. Some demand a “fee” to remove the strike. The goal is to hijack your account — valuable for its audience, ad access, or resale — using your fear of losing it against you.
Red flags to watch for
- Urgency and threats — resolve now or lose your account.
- A link to “dispute” or “appeal” instead of the platform’s own tools.
- A request for your password or two-factor code on a linked form.
- A sender or “law firm” you cannot independently verify.
- A fee demanded to remove the strike or restore the account.
How real copyright claims work
Legitimate copyright notices come through the platform’s own system and appear in your account’s official dashboard, where any dispute is handled with built-in tools. The platform never asks for your password or two-factor code by message, and there is no fee to file a counter-notice. Real claims are not resolved by clicking a link a stranger sent and logging in. If you receive a strike notice, ignore the link and check your account’s official copyright or content section yourself to see whether anything is actually there.
A real copyright strike shows up in your account dashboard, not in a link demanding your password. The threat of losing your channel is the lever; the login form is the trap.
How to protect yourself
Never log in or share a code through a link in a copyright message, and never pay to “remove a strike.” Check your account’s official dashboard to verify any real claim, and turn on two-factor authentication for your creator and personal accounts. If you clicked and entered details, change your password immediately and review active sessions. Give every account a unique password from our password generator, so one captured login cannot cascade into the rest of your presence.
Frequently asked questions
Is a copyright strike email a scam?
An urgent strike notice with a link to “dispute” or “verify,” asking for your login or two-factor code or a fee, is almost always a phishing scam. Real copyright claims appear in your account’s official dashboard and are handled with built-in tools.
How do I check if a copyright claim is real?
Ignore the link and open your account’s official copyright or content section yourself to see whether a claim actually exists. The platform does not ask for your password by message, and there is no fee to file a counter-notice.
What if I already clicked and logged in?
Change your password immediately from the official app, review and end unfamiliar active sessions, and turn on two-factor authentication. If a code was shared, secure linked accounts and report the compromise to the platform.