Fake accounts are cheap to make and easy to dress up with borrowed photos. The FTC says one in four people who reported losing money to fraud from 2021 to mid-2023 said it started on social media (FTC). These checks help you tell real from fake.
Eight checks for a fake account
- Account age and past names. Instagram’s About this account shows when an account joined, its country and past usernames (Instagram Help). A brand-new account or many name changes is a warning sign.
- Photos. Very few photos, only polished model-style shots, or pictures that appear elsewhere under another name.
- Username. Extra numbers, underscores or swapped letters copying a real account.
- Followers and engagement. Many followers but almost no genuine comments, or comments that are generic.
- Posting pattern. A burst of posts in a few days, or nothing personal at all.
- The first message. Fast flattery, an investment tip, a prize, or a move to another app.
- Verification. For a public figure or brand, look for the official verified account (Instagram).
- Money or codes. Any request for money, gift cards, crypto or a code sent to your phone.
Unlock the full guide with ImposterWatch Personal, US$9/mo
Members read every guide in full, plus get breach and dark web alerts for up to three email addresses, an AI-powered romance scam check every month, and account recovery help.
Get Personal, US$9/mo Already a member? Log in
Common fake account scams
The FTC says the biggest reported losses on social media come from fake investment offers, followed by romance scams, and that shopping ads leading to goods that never arrive are the most reported (FTC). Hacked or copied friend accounts asking for urgent help are common too.
How to check further
- Run their profile photo through the photo check above.
- If it claims to be someone you know, contact them on a number or account you already have.
- Search the name or username with the word “scam”.
- If you met them through dating, read is my online match real?
Report and protect yourself
Use the platform’s report option for fake or impersonating accounts, then block. Limit who can see your posts, as the FTC suggests (FTC), and see our guide to protecting your photos. If your own account was taken over, see what to do about a hacked Facebook page.
Where to report
- US: ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- Australia: Scamwatch.
- UK: Report Fraud.
- Canada: the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
- New Zealand: Netsafe.
Questions
Does a blue tick mean an account is real?
Instagram says verification shows an account is the authentic presence of the person or brand. Lots of genuine people aren’t verified, so a missing tick alone doesn’t mean fake.
A friend sent me a new friend request. Is it them?
Possibly not. Copies of real accounts are common. Message or call your friend on their existing account or number before accepting.
How common are social media scams?
The FTC says one in four people who reported losing money to fraud from 2021 to mid-2023 said it started on social media, with reported losses of US$2.7 billion.
Someone made a fake account using my photos. What can I do?
Report it to the platform as impersonation, ask friends to report it too, and read our guide on protecting your photos.
Think their photos are borrowed?
Run a profile photo through the photo check above. ImposterWatch Personal (US$9/month, cancel anytime) adds AI-powered checks, breach alerts for up to three email addresses and account recovery help.
Run the photo checkGet Personal, US$9/moMore guides
- How to check if an email is really from a company
- How to tell if a call is a scam
- Romance scam warning signs
- How to reverse image search a dating profile
- Military romance scams
- Crypto romance scams (pig butchering)
- Sent money to a romance scammer? What to do now
- Is my online match real? How to check
- Has my email been in a data breach?
- “I have your password” sextortion email scam
- Protect your photos from being stolen
- How to tell if an email is a scam
- How to check if a website is fake
- Grandparent and family emergency scams
- Clicked a toll text link? What to do now
- Crypto romance scams: helping a parent
- Tech support pop-up scams
- “Hi Mum” text and WhatsApp scams
- Florida scams: Miami, Orlando and Tampa
- Facebook Marketplace buyer and seller scams
- Task job scams: “earn from home” texts and WhatsApp offers
- Fake bank fraud alert texts (“Did you attempt a purchase?”)
- “I sent you my WhatsApp code by mistake” scam
- Fake celebrity investment ads (deepfake “get rich” videos)
- Fake tax office calls and texts (IRS, HMRC, ATO, CRA, IRD)
- Fake Amazon calls and texts ("suspicious purchase on your account")
- How to find someone’s Tinder profile (and check they’re real)
- Spotting AI or deepfake dating photos
- Names romance scammers use, and how to check one
- A match asks you to “verify your identity” through a link
- Real vs fake Apple, Google and Gmail security alerts
- Teen sextortion on Snapchat and Instagram: a guide for parents
- Fake Social Security, Centrelink and pension calls
- How to find or verify someone on Bumble
- Find or verify someone on Hinge without an account
- What dating apps look like on a bank statement
- Is phone spyware legal? Finding stalkerware on your phone
- Grindr safety: checking a match and spotting set-ups
- Second-number apps (TextNow, Google Voice) and how to spot them
- Find someone by username across platforms
- How to tell if a text is a scam (and how to report it)
- QR code scams (“quishing”): how to spot one
- Rental scams: how to spot a fake listing or landlord
- Gave a scammer your personal information? What to do
- All guides
General information only, not legal or financial advice. ImposterWatch is operated by Cloud Investments FZE (UAE) and is not a background check or private investigator service.