Someone is impersonating me online: what to do

What online impersonation looks like

Impersonation means someone uses your name, photo, logo or brand name to make people believe they are you. Typical cases:

• a copycat account on Facebook, Instagram or TikTok using your profile picture and reposting your content;
• a WhatsApp number messaging your customers, friends or family while claiming to be you;
• a fake shop page selling “your” products at suspicious discounts and never delivering;
• a fake “customer service” asking for a mobile money payment, a verification code or personal details.

Red flags: people ask why “you” messaged them, customers mention a promotion you never ran, or a follower sends you a screenshot of an account that looks a lot like yours.

Step 1: collect evidence first

Fake accounts often vanish or rename themselves once they notice they have been spotted. Evidence is what makes your reports, a police complaint and your warning to customers credible.

1. Copy the exact profile URL, not just the display name. On mobile, tap Share, then Copy link.
2. Take screenshots of the profile, posts, messages sent to your customers and any payment numbers requested. Keep dates visible when you can.
3. Write down the @username. Display names change easily; usernames are a better identifier.
4. Ask victims for their screenshots: conversations, transfer receipts and phone numbers used.
5. Keep everything in one folder with a short timeline of what happened and when.

Don’t message or threaten the impersonator. It usually just pushes them to delete evidence or move to a new account.

Step 2: report the account on every platform

Every major platform has a dedicated “pretending to be me” or impersonation option. Use it rather than a generic “spam” report: it goes to the right review queue.

• Facebook: on the profile or Page, tap “…”, then Report, then the “pretending to be someone” option. Full guide: report a fake Facebook account.
• Instagram: “…” on the profile, Report, then the impersonation option. Full guide: report an Instagram impersonator.
• TikTok: Share arrow or “…” on the profile, Report, then Impersonation. Full guide: report a fake TikTok account.
• WhatsApp: open the chat, tap the contact name, then Report. Full guide: WhatsApp scammers using your name.

Ask a few trusted people to report it too, using the same reason. Menus change regularly, so when in doubt, the platform’s official help center is the reference: facebook.com/help, help.instagram.com, support.tiktok.com and faq.whatsapp.com.

Step 3: warn your audience and customers

Reviews can take time, and the impersonator keeps messaging people meanwhile. A clear warning from you is often the fastest protection.

1. Post an alert on all your real accounts (post, story, WhatsApp status): “Heads up: a fake account is using my name. These are my only official accounts. I never ask for payment in private messages.”
2. Show a screenshot of the fake account, blurring any victim’s personal details.
3. Point to one single place where people can find your real accounts and numbers. That is exactly what an official link is for (see below).
4. Pin the alert to the top of your profile for a few weeks.

Step 4: go to the authorities when it is serious

If people lost money, if you are receiving threats, or if your reputation is seriously harmed, contact the authorities in your country: your local police station or the cybercrime unit where one exists. Many countries also run an online reporting service for internet fraud; check your government’s official websites.

• Bring your evidence folder, printed and on your phone.
• If someone paid by mobile money or bank transfer, they should contact their provider immediately with the transaction reference.
• Keep a copy of your police report; some platforms may ask for it.

Rules and procedures differ from country to country. For a serious case, talking to a lawyer is the safest option.

How My Official Links helps protect you

Impersonators succeed because people can’t tell which account is real. My Official Links tackles that directly:

• One official link that gathers your real social accounts, your real WhatsApp, your promotions and your address. Put it in every bio so customers always know where to check.
• Certification with a blue badge: we check that your social accounts show your page link in their bio, that your phone numbers are yours (code received by WhatsApp or by call), that your emails are yours, and that your legal name matches your national ID or tax number. Learn about certification.
• The free “Check an account” tool: anyone can paste a TikTok, Instagram or Facebook link, an @username, a phone number or an email and see whether it belongs to a certified page. Share it with your customers: Check an account.
• The “Report impersonation” form if someone uses your name on My Official Links: report impersonation.

We can’t remove a fake account from Facebook or TikTok (only the platform can), but we give your customers a simple way to recognize the real you. You can create your page for free: 14-day trial, no credit card.

What to do right now: checklist

1. Copy the fake account’s URL and @username.
2. Screenshot the profile, posts, messages and payment numbers.
3. Report it with the impersonation reason on each platform.
4. Ask 3 to 5 trusted people to report it too.
5. Post and pin a warning on all your real accounts.
6. Change your passwords and turn on two-factor authentication.
7. File a police report if money or threats are involved.
8. Put one official link in your bios and consider getting it certified.