Fake Profiles

When using social media, it's common to share personal information, under the assumption that only a trusted network of friends and family will have access to this data. However, this is not always the case. Often, strangers are added to contact lists, and if your profile is public, anyone can access the content you post.

Unfortunately, malicious individuals can misuse this personal information to create fake profiles. These fake profiles are often used to commit scams via messaging apps or even to engage in “catfishing”, a scam where a fake profile interacts with others. The use of photos, names, and other personal information by third parties to simulate relationships, extort, or deceive users is becoming increasingly common on social media. 

If you come across a fake profile of yourself or of someone you know, report it to the social media platform where you found it. Most major social media services like Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook allow you to do this by accessing the profile page and selecting the “Report profile” option from the menu. Follow the steps provided by the platform. Most platforms also offer the option of blocking the fake profile. After receiving the report, the social networking service will review the profile and, if confirmed, the fake account will be deleted.

It's also important to inform your friends and contacts as soon as possible to prevent other people from being deceived by the impostor's profile.

If your information was used to create a fake profile or you were the victim of a fake profile, it's important that you file a police report so the case can be investigated. In some cases, the police report can be filed online. If this option isn’t available at your location, go to a police station specializing in cybercrime or go to the nearest police station and file a police report. 

Collect as much information as possible about the impostor, including screenshots of the impostor's conversations with their victims, details of the fake profile, and the name of the social network where this occurred. These are important to support the investigation and help prevent future incidents.

See other tips from Internet Citizen and learn how to better protect your personal data.

This topic was proposed at the Hackathon organized during the 12th Internet Governance Forum in Brazil (in Portuguese, Fórum da Internet no Brasil) which took place in Natal (RN) - https://forumdainternet.cgi.br/2022/
It was developed by Douglas Rodrigues, Mariana Alves Araújo Lopes, Marcos César Martins Pereira, Pedro Eduardo Camera, and Rodrigo Lopes.

Description

In the first scene, a young man receives a message inquiring about a cell phone offered for sale. He looks alarmed, as he doesn't know what the message is about. Next, he receives an image of a social media ad featuring his own photo as the profile picture. The phrase appears at the top of the screen: “Is someone pretending to be you on social media?”.

In the second scene, the phrase changes to “Find the fake profile and report it.” The young man opens the fake profile, selects the “Report” option, and follows the steps for reporting the profile. 

In the third scene, he calls a friend and tells him about the fake profile. The phrase now reads “Let your friends and family know.” 

In the fourth scene, the young man is at a police station, talking to a police officer who types the report on a computer. The final phrase reads “File a police report.”