How to Report a Fake Facebook Account (Profile or Page)

A friend request from someone you've been friends with for years, a stranger using a photo of your colleague, or a profile that copies you word for word: fake accounts are unsettling, and they're a real headache if you're a small-business owner whose name and photos are your brand. The reassuring part is that Facebook has a specific reporting route for this, and you don't have to be a friend of the account, or even have a Facebook account yourself, to use it. Here's how reporting works according to Facebook's help pages, what to do if it's pretending to be you, and what to avoid doing while you wait.

Fake profile or impersonation: which kind of report do you need?

Facebook's help pages draw a distinction worth knowing before you click anything.

• Impersonation: a profile or Page pretending to be you, someone you know or a well-known person, such as a celebrity or politician. Facebook says these go against its Community Standards and aren't allowed.
• A profile you think breaks the rules in another way. You report it from the profile and pick the option that best describes how it goes against the Community Standards.

If the account is copying a real person's name and photos, use the impersonation route, because it's the one built for that. If you aren't sure, start from the profile's Options menu and follow the prompts, which guide you to the right category.

How to report a fake Facebook account on your phone

This is Facebook's route for impersonating profiles on the app, according to its help article:

1. Go to the impersonating profile. If you can't find it, try searching for the name or asking a friend to send you a link to it.
2. Tap Options in the top right.
3. Select Report profile.
4. Follow the prompts.

Menus vary by app version, so if you don't see Options in the top right, look for a three-dot or More button on the profile.

How to report a fake Facebook account on a computer

1. Go to the impersonating profile, searching for the name or asking a friend for a link if you can't find it.
2. Click Options below the cover photo.
3. Select Report profile.
4. Follow the prompts.

For a profile that isn't impersonating anyone but still looks wrong, Facebook's general article on reporting a profile says to go to the profile, click Options to the right and click Report profile. Then click the option that best describes how it goes against the Community Standards. Facebook adds that depending on your feedback you may be able to submit a report to Meta, and that for some types of content it doesn't ask for a report but uses your feedback to help its systems learn.

What if a fake Facebook Page is pretending to be you or your business?

The same article covers Pages. Go to the impersonating Page (search for its name, or ask a friend to send you the link), then on a computer click Options below the cover photo and select Report Page, or on a phone tap Options in the top right and select Report Page. Then follow the prompts. If your business name is being copied, this is the route to use, rather than posting about it. I've also written about what to do after someone gets into a real account, in my guide to recovering a hacked Facebook account, because a copycat and a hacked account are different problems.

Can you report a fake Facebook account without a Facebook account?

Yes, for impersonation. Facebook's help says you can report impersonating profiles or Pages even if you don't have a Facebook account. If you don't have an account or you've lost access to yours, it points you to a contact form. You can also report impostor profiles or Pages in Messenger.

What happens after you report a fake Facebook account

Here I'll be straight with you: the articles I read don't describe what Facebook does after you submit, how long it takes, or whether it will tell you the outcome. They only say that you follow the prompts, and that your feedback may lead to a report being submitted or may be used to help their systems learn. I'd treat a report as something that's been logged rather than a guarantee, and I wouldn't promise anyone, including a client, a particular result.

If the fake account is pretending to be you

Facebook's help says that if you see a profile or Page pretending to be you, someone you know or a well-known person, it encourages you to let it know. In practice, here's what I'd do, in this order:

1. Report it using the steps above, ideally from the profile itself.
2. Ask a couple of trusted friends to report it as well. The help article doesn't say this speeds anything up, but it doesn't hurt.
3. Let friends and customers know, without drama, that a copy exists and not to accept requests from it. Keep the message short and don't link to the fake.
4. Check your own account is secure. Change your password if you've any doubt.

What to do if someone has already added the fake account or messaged them

Tell anyone who has been contacted not to share codes or personal information, or to act on any request the fake account makes. Facebook's help also says you can unfriend or block someone who's bothering you. My guides on blocking someone on Facebook and restricting someone on Facebook cover those options, although blocking a fake account doesn't remove it for other people, so you still need the report.

If you want information about an account that was impersonating you

Facebook has a separate help article for this. It says that if you'd like a copy of data that was posted to an account impersonating you, you should first contact a lawyer or your local law enforcement agency and discuss it with them. It adds that if you decide to pursue legal action, they recommend having the lawyer or officer review Facebook's operational guidelines and contact it by following the directions listed there. It also warns that there are situations where it may be unable to retrieve the information because of technical limitations. I'm not a lawyer, and that's the point where I'd stop and get advice from one.

Safety first: when a fake account is more than a nuisance

Most fake accounts are scams or copycats, but some come with threats, harassment or someone who knows where you live. In those cases, report it to Facebook, and if you're in danger, contact the police. Keep screenshots of messages and the profile's details somewhere safe, because they may help if you later need to show someone what happened. Don't confront the person behind the account, and don't name or shame anyone publicly on Facebook or elsewhere, even if you're sure who's behind it. It can backfire on you, and it isn't a route Facebook's help suggests.

Frequently asked questions

How do I report a fake Facebook account?

Go to the profile, tap or click Options, select Report profile and follow the prompts. If you can't find it, search for the name or ask a friend to send you a link, according to Facebook's help.

Can I report a fake account without having Facebook?

Facebook says you can report impersonating profiles or Pages even without an account. If you don't have one or have lost access, it points you to a contact form.

What happens after I report it?

The help articles I read don't say what happens next or how long it takes. They only explain the reporting steps.

What if the fake account is pretending to be me?

Report it using the impersonation steps, tell friends not to accept its requests and check your own account's security.

What if I'm in danger?

Report it to Facebook and, if you're in danger, contact the police.

Should I name the person publicly?

I wouldn't. Report it to Facebook and keep your evidence private.