Tips for Spotting and Reporting Fake Accounts
Maintaining our connections to family and friends is a great part of social media; we use online platforms to share memories, check out trends, and find entertainment. But there are scammers with fake profiles out there working to harass other users, spread disinformation, sell phony products, and are putting your online security at risk. RTC Networks has some helpful suggestions for avoiding online impersonators and alerting others about fake sites.
SCAM SPOTTING STRATEGIES
There are several recognizable signs to look for when trying to identify an imposter account:
- Missing or mismatched profile pictures. An imposter account often appears with no picture, a blurry image, or with a picture that doesn’t seem to match the account’s content. RTC Networks suggests using a tool like Google’s Reverse Image Search to determine a picture’s authenticity. Simply drop the picture into the image search to check the origin of the picture, which can help you determine the site’s credibility.
- Lack of a verification badge. Many popular social media platforms use blue check marks by names to indicate that the user has been authenticated. These are meant to protect celebrities, brands, or other high-profile users from being targeted by copycats, and the lack of that blue mark can help you identify an impersonator site.
- Content that is borrowed. Often fake sites have little to no original material. RTC Networks suggests that when you skim the content of a site, be on the lookout for overuse of stock photos and memes rather than original content. Disinformation sites tend to be extreme in their views, ask for money, and may contain odd slang or informal language.
- Discrepancy in a person’s follower count and interactions. Although a fake account may appear to have thousands of followers, they will have little to no actual engagement with their posts. You can also check if other verified accounts follow or interact with the suspected site; a lack of verified followers may also be an indication of an imposter site.
AVOIDING FAKE FRIEND REQUESTS
Another way scammers are reaching out to you is with cloned Facebook accounts. RTC Networks advises you to reach out to friends BEFORE accepting that request to confirm that the notice actually came from them. If they haven’t sent another notice, your friend will appreciate knowing that their account has been cloned, and you both can take action.
REPORTING SCAMS
If you believe that you are interacting with a fake social media account, RTC Networks recommends reporting the site as soon as possible. Platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok have a specific reporting process and forms to expose social media scams; it is not necessary for you to be a subscriber to post an alert.
Staying vigilant about spotting potential fake accounts will better protect you and your entire online community so that you can use your accounts for what they were intended – staying connected.