Deepak Gupta

Fake Facebook profile pretending to be you

Go to the fake profile, click Options below the cover photo, select Report profile, and follow the prompts. If you do not have a Facebook account, or lost access to yours, use Facebook's "Report an Impostor Account" contact form instead. You can report impostor profiles and Pages even without an account.

Do these 3 things now

1Report the fake from its profile, or use Facebook's impostor form if you cannot log in.Read to them:“Report the fake from its profile, or use Facebook's impostor form if you cannot log in.”
2Warn your friends that the fake profile is not you and not to accept its requests.Read to them:“Warn your friends that the fake profile is not you and not to accept its requests.”
3Do not reply to anyone who offers to take the fake down for a fee. Only Facebook removes profiles.Read to them:“Do not reply to anyone who offers to take the fake down for a fee. Only Facebook removes profiles.”

Report an Impostor Account (Facebook contact form)

Official link: www.facebook.com

I am helping someone else

Helper mode: each step is written for you to read aloud. Let them tap and type on their own device; never ask them to send you a code. Send them this first.

01Is this you?

A profile or Page uses your name and photos.
Friends get new friend requests or messages from "you".

Not quite? My real account was taken over · My account is posting scams

02Official recovery path

Go to the fake profile. If you cannot find it, search for the name or ask a friend to send you the link.Read to them:“Go to the fake profile. If you cannot find it, search for the name or ask a friend to send you the link.”source
Click Options below the cover photo.Read to them:“Click Options below the cover photo.”source
Select Report profile (or Report Page for a fake Page).Read to them:“Select Report profile (or Report Page for a fake Page).”source
Follow the prompts.Read to them:“Follow the prompts.”source
If you have no Facebook account or lost access to yours, fill out the "Report an Impostor Account" contact form.Read to them:“If you have no Facebook account or lost access to yours, fill out the "Report an Impostor Account" contact form.”source

Did that get you back in?

Yes

Lock it down now. Change the password, turn on two-step, sign out other devices. It takes about 15 minutes.

No

A.You can also report impostor profiles or Pages in Messenger.Read to them:“You can also report impostor profiles or Pages in Messenger.”source
B.If you want a copy of data posted by the fake account, Facebook says to talk to a lawyer or local police first. They can contact Meta using its law enforcement guidelines.Read to them:“If you want a copy of data posted by the fake account, Facebook says to talk to a lawyer or local police first. They can contact Meta using its law enforcement guidelines.”source

Then: how long it takes

03How long it takes

No published timeline

Facebook does not publish how long impostor reports take.

While you wait

Post from your real account that the fake is not you.
Ask friends to report the fake profile too.
Screenshot the fake profile and any messages it sent.

04Warn your contacts

Send this from another account or by text, so nobody falls for messages sent in your name.

Someone made a fake Facebook profile using my name and photos: [link to fake]. My only real profile is [link to real]. Please do not accept its friend request or send it anything, and report it as pretending to be me.

More templates: email, followers, customers

05Watch out for recovery scams

People who just lost an account are the main target of fake helpers. Only Facebook's own app or website can restore your account.

Messages from a friend's hacked account asking for money, a code, or to click a link. How it works
Crypto and investment ads that use a famous face, often run from hacked accounts. How it works
"Recovery hackers" in comments and groups who say they can get your account back for a fee. Facebook's own route is facebook.com/hacked. How it works

All recovery scams and how to spot them

06Once you're back in: lock it down

0 of 9 doneAbout 20 minutes total

Use a new password you use nowhere else2 minChange your Facebook password to one that is hard to guess and not used on any other site or app. Never share it. Facebook says to avoid your name and common words.source
Turn on two-factor authentication with an app or security key4 minClick your profile picture > Settings and privacy > Settings > Accounts Center > Password and security > Two-factor authentication, then pick your account. Facebook offers a security key, an authentication app, or text message codes. Pick the key or the app if you can, so a stolen phone number cannot get the codes.source
Create a passkey2 minA passkey lets you log in with your fingerprint, face or device passcode, and Facebook says it is less open to phishing than a password. Facebook may prompt you to create one when you log in. You can also look for Passkey in Accounts Center > Password and security. Do not create one on a shared device.Unconfirmed, test pendingsource
Save your 10 recovery codes2 minIn Accounts Center > Password and security > Two-factor authentication, pick your account. Below How you get login codes, click Additional methods > Recovery codes > Get new codes. Print them or write them down. Each code works once.source
Log out devices you do not recognize2 minIn Accounts Center > Password and security, click Where you're logged in and pick your account. Click Select devices to log out, choose the ones you do not recognize (or Select all), then click Log out.source
Add a second email or phone that only you control2 minKeep an up to date email and mobile number on your account, and add a second one in case the first is taken over. Make sure no one else can get into those emails, and that your email password is different from your Facebook password.source
Remove apps and websites you do not trust2 minClick your profile picture > Settings & privacy > Settings > Apps and websites. Click Remove next to anything you do not use or trust, then Remove again to confirm.source
Run Security Checkup and turn on login alerts3 minLog in on a computer or the latest Facebook app and start Security Checkup. It recommends steps like updating your password, two-factor authentication and alerts about logins from devices Facebook does not recognize.source
Learn where to check real Facebook emails1 minGo to Accounts Center > Password and security, then below Security checks select Recent emails. Real security emails from the last year are in the SECURITY tab. If a scary email is not there, it did not come from Facebook.source

Then do the 24-hour cleanup.

Free toolExposure CheckSee what of yours is already public.Free toolPassword Breach CheckCheck if a password shows up in known leaks.ReadLogin security: 7 best practices

07How it probably happened

Most likely
Someone copied your public photos and name to scam your friends.
Also common
Scammers clone profiles so they can ask the real person's friends for money.
How this scam works
Less common
Fake profiles copy public figures to push investment scams.
How this scam works

Account taken, recovery details swapped

08Report it

Lost money, being blackmailed, or someone is using your account to scam others? Report it to your country's cybercrime service too. If you are in danger, call your local emergency number.

United States

FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)Report online crime, including account takeovers that led to money loss or extortion. The IC3 never contacts you first and never asks for money.
FTC ReportFraudReport the scam to the Federal Trade Commission.
IdentityTheft.govUse it if someone used your Social Security number or opened accounts in your name. You get a recovery plan.

United Kingdom

Report Fraud (England, Wales and Northern Ireland)Run by the City of London Police. It replaced Action Fraud on 4 December 2025. In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101 instead.
Forward scam texts to 7726Free on most UK networks. Your provider can look into the sender and block it.
Report a scam email to the NCSCForward the email to report@phishing.gov.uk before you delete it.
Report Fraud: 0300 123 2040England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101.

India

National Cyber Crime Reporting PortalRun by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), Ministry of Home Affairs. Reports go to state and UT police.
Chakshu on Sanchar SaathiReport suspected fraud calls, SMS or WhatsApp messages to the Department of Telecommunications. It is not for money already lost: call 1930 for that.
National Cyber Crime Helpline: 1930Toll free, 24 hours. Call fast if money left your account: it can help freeze the transfer.

Canada

Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: report onlineVictims and witnesses can report fraud or cybercrime online. Also contact your local police as soon as you can.
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: 1-888-495-8501Toll free. The CAFC does not contact people to ask for money.

Australia

ReportCyberReport cybercrime to police. Your report may go to your state or territory police or the AFP.
ScamwatchReport a scam, even if you lost no money. The AFP also points people worried about identity theft to IDCARE, a free support service.
ReportCyber phone line: 1300 292 371Report concerns about cybercrime or cyber security incidents. If life is at risk, call 000.

09Questions people ask

Can I report a fake profile without a Facebook account?

Yes. Facebook says you can report impersonating profiles or Pages even if you do not have an account, using its impostor contact form.

Does Facebook allow profiles that pretend to be someone else?

No. Facebook says profiles and Pages that impersonate other people go against its Community Standards.

Can I report a fake profile of my friend?

Yes. Facebook lets you report a profile pretending to be you, someone you know, or a public figure.

How do I get information about who made the fake?

Facebook says to contact a lawyer or local law enforcement first. They can follow Meta's operational guidelines to contact Meta.

Sources and last check

Last verified: October 16, 2026. Steps checked against the platform's own help pages listed below. Device testing is ongoing; steps marked unconfirmed are still waiting for it.

Facebook Help: Report a Facebook profile or Page pretending to be you or someone else (read 2026-10-16)
Facebook Help: Imposter accounts (read 2026-10-16)
Facebook Help Center: Report an Impostor Account (read 2026-10-16)

Wrong step or changed screen? Report it. Never include passwords or codes.