Quick answer
Open the fake profile, select Options (below the cover photo on a computer, or at the top right in the app), choose Report profile, and follow the prompts. For a fake Page, choose Report Page. If you can’t find the fake account, Meta suggests searching for the name or asking a friend to send you a link. Meta encourages you to report profiles pretending to be you, someone you know, or a public figure. Then warn your friends through another channel not to send money or codes, and ask them to report it too. If you can’t log in to your own account, you’ve been hacked: see Facebook hacked.
Does this match what you see?
- Friends get a new friend request from “you”, though you didn’t send it.
- A profile uses your name and photos, but it isn’t your account.
- Friends say “you” messaged them asking for money, codes or help. Ask them whether it came from your real profile or a second one.
- A Page is posing as you, someone you know or a public figure.
- Your own account still works normally.
iPhone & iPadAndroidComputer (browser)
Meta gives the same steps for the iPhone, iPad and Android apps, and slightly different ones for a computer. Both are below.
Why this happens: the possible causes
First make sure which problem you have. The fix is different.
| What you see | What it means | Go to |
|---|---|---|
| A second profile with your name or photos; you can still log in to yours | Impersonation (a fake or “cloned” account) | Fix 1 |
| A Page posing as you, someone you know or a public figure | An impersonating Page | Fix 2 |
| Posts or messages from your own account that you didn’t send | Your account may be hacked | Facebook hacked |
| You can’t log in, or your email or password was changed | Your account is hacked | Facebook hacked |
- Copying public photos and namesCheck this first
Whatever people who aren’t your friends can see (your profile picture, cover photo and public posts) can be copied to build a convincing fake.
- Scamming your friendsCheck this first
Fakes often send friend requests to the real person’s friends, then ask for money, gift cards or login codes. People trust a familiar name and face.
- Posing as a business or public figurePossible
Fake Pages copy well-known people and organizations. Meta’s Newsroom notes that scammers create fake accounts and Pages posing as customer support.
Try these 60-second checks first
- Log in to your own account. If you can, and you see no posts, messages or changes you didn’t make, this is most likely impersonation.
- Copy the link to the fake profile or Page, or take screenshots, in case it changes or is removed.
- Don’t message or argue with the fake account. Report it instead.
How to fix it, step by step
Work through these in order. They start with the quickest, safest checks and only move to steps that sign you out or remove data later.
Fix 1: Report the fake profile
Meta says profiles that impersonate other people aren’t allowed, and it encourages people to report them.
iPhone & iPad
- Go to the impersonating profile.
- Tap Options at the top right and select Report profile.
- Follow the prompts. Choose the options that say the profile is pretending to be you or someone you know.
Android
- Go to the impersonating profile.
- Tap Options at the top right and select Report profile.
- Follow the prompts. Choose the options that say the profile is pretending to be you or someone you know.
Computer (browser)
- Go to the impersonating profile.
- Click Options below the cover photo.
- Select Report profile.
- Follow the prompts. Choose the options that say the profile is pretending to be you or someone you know.
The same steps work when the fake is pretending to be someone you know or a public figure, such as a celebrity or politician. Meta encourages those reports too.
Did it work? You finished all the prompts.
Fix 2: Report a fake Page
Meta says Pages that impersonate other people also go against its Community Standards. You report them the same way as profiles.
iPhone & iPad
- Go to the impersonating Page.
- Tap Options at the top right and select Report Page.
- Follow the prompts.
Android
- Go to the impersonating Page.
- Tap Options at the top right and select Report Page.
- Follow the prompts.
Computer (browser)
- Go to the impersonating Page.
- Click Options below the cover photo.
- Select Report Page and follow the prompts.
If a Page you manage was taken over rather than copied, that’s a different problem: see Facebook Page hacked.
Did it work? You finished all the prompts.
Fix 3: Can’t find the fake account?
You can only report a profile you can reach. If the fake has blocked you, you may not be able to see it.
- Search Facebook for the name, as Meta suggests, including spelling variations. Look for profile pictures you recognize.
- Ask a friend who received a request or message from the fake to send you a link to it, as Meta suggests.
- If you can’t open it (for example, it has blocked you), ask that friend to report it from their account using the same steps. Meta encourages reports of profiles pretending to be someone you know.
- If the fake messaged you or a friend, Meta also lets you report impostor profiles or Pages in Messenger (external site, opens in a new tab).
Did it work? You, or a friend, have reported the fake account.
Fix 4: Warn your friends, and ask them to report it
While the fake is still up, it can keep contacting people who trust you. A quick warning protects them.
- Post on your real profile, or message friends directly, that a fake account is using your name. Use another channel too (text or a phone call) for people who might be targeted.
- Tell them not to accept requests from the fake, and never to send money, gift cards or login codes, whoever seems to be asking.
- Ask friends who received a request or message to report the fake using Fix 1.
- If a friend already sent money, they should contact their bank or payment service straight away, and report the fraud: in the US to ReportFraud.ftc.gov (external site, opens in a new tab), in the UK to Action Fraud (external site, opens in a new tab), in Canada to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (external site, opens in a new tab), in Australia to Scamwatch (external site, opens in a new tab), and in EU countries through your country’s reporting site, which you can find on Europol’s Report cybercrime online (external site, opens in a new tab) page.
Did it work? Your friends know about the fake and won’t respond to it.
Fix 5: Make your profile harder to copy, and secure your real account
A fake account is a warning that someone is targeting your name. A few minutes now makes the next copy less convincing and keeps your real account safe.
- If you have Lock profile, consider using it so only friends see your posts and photos. It’s only offered in some countries. See Lock your Facebook profile.
- If you don’t, choose Friends rather than Public as the audience for your posts.
- Remember your current profile picture and cover photo can stay public. Choose images you’re comfortable with others seeing.
- Turn on two-factor authentication and use a strong, unique password, so a copycat can’t move on to your real account.
Did it work? Your posts aren’t public, and two-factor authentication is on.
What happens after you report
Meta reviews reports against its Community Standards. Meta’s page doesn’t say what happens after a report or how long it takes, and we couldn’t find a published timeline. In the meantime:
- Keep your screenshots and the link in case you need them again.
- If the fake is still up after a while and still contacting people, ask a few friends who were contacted to report it too.
- If the fake comes back under a new name, report the new one the same way.
Threats, harassment or someone in danger
If a fake account is used to threaten or harass you, keep the evidence and report the posts and messages as well as the profile. If you feel unsafe, or someone is in immediate danger, contact your local police or emergency number.
Typical messages from a fake account (examples, not real messages)
These are common patterns, written in our own words. The details change, but the shape stays the same.
“Hi, this is my new account, the old one got hacked. Please add me.”- What it usually means
- The usual opening line from a fake trying to reach your friends.
- What to do
- Check with the real person another way, then report the profile. Fix 1
“I’m stuck. Can you send me money / a gift card and I’ll pay you back?”- What it usually means
- A money request from a copied profile.
- What to do
- Don’t send anything. Report it, and warn others. Fix 4
“I sent you a code by mistake, can you send it back?”- What it usually means
- An attempt to take over the friend’s own account.
- What to do
- Never share codes. See account recovery scams.
How to know it worked
- The fake profile or Page has been reported, by you or a friend.
- Your friends have been warned not to respond to it.
- Your real account has two-factor authentication on.
Still not working? Your next steps
- If you can’t log in to your own account, follow Facebook hacked.
- If money was lost, contact the bank or payment service and report the fraud (see Fix 4).
- If you get messages offering paid removal or “recovery”, treat them as scams: account recovery scams.
Official help routes
SocialAppFix can’t see or change your account. For account decisions, recovery and appeals, only the platform’s own tools can help. These links go to the official sites.
- Facebook Help: report a profile or Page pretending to be youFacebook Help Center (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Facebook Help: report impostor profiles or Pages in MessengerFacebook Help Center (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Facebook Help: imposter accountsFacebook Help Center (external site, opens in a new tab)
Frequently asked questions
Someone made a fake Facebook account with my photos. What do I do?
Open the fake profile, select Options, then Report profile, and follow the prompts. Warn your friends not to respond or send money, and ask them to report it too.
Is a fake account of me the same as being hacked?
No. If you can still log in to your own account, someone has made a copy: report it as impersonation. If you can’t log in, or your account posts things you didn’t write, follow the hacked-account steps.
Can I report a fake account if it blocked me?
Ask a friend who can see it to send you a link, as Meta suggests, or to report it from their own account. Meta encourages reports of profiles pretending to be someone you know.
Can I report someone pretending to be a friend or a celebrity?
Yes. Meta encourages you to report profiles or Pages pretending to be you, someone you know, or a public figure such as a celebrity or politician.
How long does Facebook take to remove a fake account?
Meta’s page doesn’t say how long it takes, and we couldn’t find a published timeline. Report it, keep the evidence, and ask people it contacted to report it too.
Should I pay someone to get the fake account removed?
No. Reporting is free and done in Facebook. Anyone charging to remove accounts, or claiming to work for Meta, is very likely a scammer.
Did this solve your problem?
Your answer stays in your browser — nothing is sent or stored. The “tell us” link opens your own email app.
Out of date or didn’t work? Email us — never include passwords or codes.
Sources and how we checked this guide
We base steps on the platforms’ own help pages and the phone makers’ official guides. Menu names change often and can differ by device, app version and region. Where a platform page could not be independently read, we link it so you can check the current wording yourself.
- Report a Facebook profile or Page pretending to be you or someone else (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Report impostor profiles or Pages in Messenger (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Imposter accounts (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Helping Older Adults Avoid Online Scams (Oct 2025) (external site, opens in a new tab)
- ReportFraud.ftc.gov (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Action Fraud – report fraud and cyber crime (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Report fraud and cybercrime (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Report a scam (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Report Cybercrime online (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Lock your Facebook profile (external site, opens in a new tab)
Last reviewed 21 October 2026 by the SocialAppFix editorial team against the sources above. Next scheduled review: 19 January 2027. How we write and review guides.
What changed
- 21 October 2026: First published.
SocialAppFix is an independent guide and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Meta or Facebook. We never ask for passwords, login codes or payment to fix an account.