A new issue linked to an Instagram ad shows how a simple tap can lock an iPhone and stop normal use, as users report that a crypto-related ad triggered a deep link loop that kept forcing a system prompt to appear again and again, making the device unresponsive until a restart.
A Reddit user shared the incident, explaining that an ad offering a “Trust Wallet credit card whitelist” instantly triggered repeated deep link requests, and even after pressing cancel, the prompt “kept reappearing continuously” and “hijacking the screen,” which left the phone unusable until a force restart.
The problem appears tied to how the ad page handled deep links inside Instagram’s in-app browser, as the page repeatedly tried to open a wallet app using a custom URL scheme, which forced iOS to show a system dialog every time.
Users say the behavior felt “like malicious design” because the loop prevented them from exiting the app, while some noted that iOS failed to block repeated prompts in this situation.
This case highlights how ads can act like phishing tools, especially when they promise access to crypto features like “whitelist entry,” which pushes users to open sensitive apps such as wallets.
Comments describe this as “predatory” and warn that such pages aim to trick users into approving unwanted actions.
How to get out of the loop
- Users report a few ways to regain control:
- Lock the phone, then access controls to power it off
- Force restart using volume up, volume down, then hold the power button
- Avoid interacting with repeated prompts
This issue shows how a single ad can disrupt the entire interface, so users should stay cautious when dealing with unknown crypto offers inside apps.
