Impersonations on social media are out of control. Below are some steps you can take to quickly remediate if this is happening to you on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
Document everything first
First, take screenshots of the fake profile—the bio, profile picture, any posts or messages it has sent—and save the URL. You’ll want this as evidence in case the account gets taken down and you need proof later. Keep updating it and store it in a safe place.
Report from your real account
Make sure you report the fake account from your real Facebook account. When you report it, don’t just flag it as spam or something generic. You need to go through the impersonation-specific reporting option. Facebook’s systems will actually compare your established account against the new fake one, and that makes a big difference in how quickly they act.
How to report the fake profile
- Go to the fake profile.
- Click the three dots or Options next to the Message button.
- Select Report Profile, then choose Something about this profile, then Fake Profile.
- Follow the prompts—it will ask you to confirm that this person is pretending to be you.
There’s also a dedicated form on Facebook specifically for reporting impersonation accounts. We recommend filling this out too, since it goes directly to the right team: facebook.com/help/contact/295309487309948.
A couple more things that help
- Ask friends and family to report the fake account as well. Multiple reports raise the priority.
- Post something from your real account letting people know about the fake one, so no one falls for any messages or friend requests from it.
- Consider making your personal Facebook profile private to ensure your pictures and information cannot be stolen in the future.
When to escalate
If the fake account is being used to scam people or harass you, consider filing a report with local law enforcement if you feel comfortable doing so.