General information · Not legal advice
General information only. This guide explains common platform processes. It is not legal advice. If ownership is disputed or you want to claim compensation, speak with a lawyer.
A fake account using your name or your business is usually after one of three things: money from your followers, access to your contacts, or attention. Acting quickly limits all three.
In the first hour
- Record it. Screenshot the profile, its posts and any messages it has sent. Copy the profile link. Note the time.
- Warn your audience. Post from your real account that a fake exists, show its handle, and say you will never ask for money or passwords by message.
- Tell your team. If it impersonates a founder or executive, warn staff and key clients that fake messages may arrive.
- Report it through the platform’s impersonation option. Most platforms ask whether the account is pretending to be you, someone you represent, or a business.
What not to do
- Don’t engage with the account or try to “out” it in its own comments.
- Don’t ask friends to mass-report it with false reasons. Use the accurate category.
- Don’t send your ID to anyone claiming to be from the platform. Platforms verify through their own official forms.
If money or safety is involved
If people have lost money, report it to Scamwatch. If accounts were hacked or money was stolen online, report it through ReportCyber. If you feel unsafe or are being threatened, contact police, and in an emergency call 000.
If fakes keep coming back, ongoing monitoring helps. See Identity & Impersonation.