Find Out Who is Behind a Fake TikTok Account
For some, realising a TikTok profile has been spreading misinformation about you, or your business, or your community feels like a nightmare you can’t wake up from. The reputational harm caused by fake profiles can cause immense distress and a sense of helplessness. Whether the offenders behind the fake profile are cyberbullying you or conducting harassment or identity theft, you are likely wondering how to identify who is behind a fake TikTok account.
Cybertrace has taken you on some deep dives into the scourge of cyberbullying and trolling on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. Here, we will remove the veils that cover fake accounts on TikTok.
TikTok Accounts Under Investigation
At Cybertrace, we are well aware that the rapid expansion of TikTok has brought with it a number of threats including the proliferation of dis- and mis-information, cyberbullying and supercharged trolling. To identify these impersonation, impostor, or catfish accounts for our Clients, there are specific tactics and techniques that we engage, such as close readings and examination of profile details, activity patterns, and engagement metrics as well as cross-indexing with other platforms.
Learn how to find out who is behind a fake TikTok account yourself.
Inspect the Account’s Profile for Personal Details, Clues or Quirks
Cybertrace has found that bio sections in TikTok accounts can give away a surprising amount of information about a user. In particular, it can be useful to check for idiosyncrasies, or even more generic phrases that might give away who is really behind the profile. Despite trying to be anonymous, many users can’t help but identify themselves in this era of “me me me on the internet”. Details about the user’s name, location, or interests that seem odd or unusual can also reveal much. When you combine this with other intelligence about language patterns exhibited in the profile, (especially those containing quirks), this can lead you straight to the person behind the profile.
Connecting the Dots Between the Fake Account and Other Social Media Profiles
Searching other platforms for the fake profile’s username is a good method for identifying who is behind the profile. Occasionally, impersonation accounts on TikTok like to create a dark brand across platforms. But more often, it is the genuine accounts that will have brand-like presence across platforms, and impersonation accounts are less likely to have multi-nodal counterparts on other platforms. It’s also a good idea to review the content posted on the impersonation account to see if it refers to or promotes other social media accounts.
Monitor the Account’s Activity or Interactions
Cybertrace suggests starting with checking for publicly available information on impersonation or catfishing TikTok accounts. Things like a lack of a profile picture or an incomplete bio can be telltale signs you are dealing with a bogus account. Similarly, posting patterns or irregularities, or frequently reposting other profiles’ content with no original material, or straight out clickbait, can indicate that it is a sham profile. Check for verification badges, though some catfish accounts may still have them.
How Do I Know it is Really a Fake Account?
Overall, it can be helpful to consider these factors when investigating the account:
- Profile Information
Genuine TikTok accounts often contain detailed profiles with a profile picture, bio, and links to other social media. Fake accounts often do note feature this kind of information or they have inconsistent details or quirks.
- Activity Pattern
Authentic TikTok accounts tend to maintain reasonably consistent posting schedules. They also engage with other content and profiles regularly. Fake accounts may exhibit irregular posting patterns or what comes across as spammy behaviour, such as storms of likes or comments on unrelated videos, in attempts to cover their tracks and appear genuine.
- Engagement Metrics
Keep an eye on engagement with the posts by the account in question. Genuine TikTok creators tend to exhibit a kind of symmetry between followers, likes, comments, and shares. Suspiciously high follower counts with low engagement rates may be a red flag for a fake account.
- Content Quality
True TikTok creators often share original and creative content that expresses their niche, brand or interests. Fake accounts are also more likely to repost content without crediting the real creator, or otherwise share poor-quality, generic videos.
- Consistency
Authentic TikTok accounts’ posts typically maintain consistency in theme or style. Fake accounts are more likely to have inconsistent posting patterns and/or switch between unrelated topics frequently.
6. Verification Badges
Keep an eye out for blue verification badges on TikTok accounts of famous individuals or well-known brands. While not all genuine accounts are verified, the absence of a verification badge on an account purporting to belong to a public figure is usually a cause for suspicion. Some fake accounts also edit fake verification badges on their profile picture.
7. Check Followers
Inspect the profiles of followers. Real accounts will more often than not exhibit a diverse range of followers with active profiles. If a TikTok account has a large follower base with many inactive or generic profiles to also look suspicious, it might be phony.
Examples of Fake TikTok Accounts
Fake Account Impersonating Elon Musk
Fake Account Impersonating Anthony Albanese
Fake TikTok Accounts are Dangerous
The proliferation of fake TikTok accounts spawns a raft of dangers that go beyond just impersonation for the sake of it. The damage that it can cause to individuals, organisations and entire communities is an issue of increasing concern.
TikTok, a social media application owned by ByteDance allows anyone to create an account without using their real name. Further, TikTok does not require identity verification. This offers the cloak of anonymity to those seeking to conceal who they are. At Cybertrace we are well aware that addressing the risks of fake TikTok accounts is crucial. Doing so is part of protecting the integrity and well-being of not only users within the platform’s extensive community, but that of the wider society who are not necessarily TikTok users.
People can use Fake Tik Tok Accounts to:
- Spread of misinformation and malicious content
- Stir up political unrest
- Cyberbullying and harassment
- Identity theft and fraud
- Difficulty in holding perpetrators accountable
- Potential harm to individuals and businesses alike
Fake TikTok Account Statistics
According to Social Media Today, Tiktok removed 11 million Fake Tiktok Accounts in 2021, however in 2022 this jumped to 33 million.
Amidst a noticeable surge in fake profiles on TikTok, users must approach the platform with caution. The notable increase in fake accounts highlights the need to stay alert against potential misinformation, cyberbullying, and other online risks.
Conclusion
Although users should be proactive in protecting themselves online, sometimes they won’t realise they have been impersonated or lied to until it’s happened. But it’s never too late to respond and try to mitigate the harm that has been done. Cybertrace can help!
The onus is also on TikTok to implement stricter verification processes to limit fake account creation. By creating better guardrails, the platform has an opportunity to provide a safer online community for all users.
Contact Cybertrace
For assistance in identifying someone behind a fake TikTok account, consider reaching out to Cybertrace. Cybertrace has conducted many TikTok investigations and has successfully identified the identities behind fake TikTok accounts using advanced investigative tools and techniques. If you need help with identifying someone behind a fake or impersonation TIkTok account, contact Cybertrace for a free case assessment and quote.
Read this next: Stop TikTok Harassment
Tags: How to Find Out Who is Behind a Fake TikTok Account
This post was revised on 11 November 2024 for improved readability and accuracy.
Someone is messaging me and pretending to be someone else asking to meet somewhere
Hi Sarah,
Our team have contacted you via email.
My children and myself are being bullied on tik tok, other peopkes chikdren are also being bullied on tik toc and my daughter is being blamed for it, i would really love to know who is behing the account @uglyb.abies
Hi Jade,
Our team have contacted you via email.
This person impersonating someone I care about on TikTok and I want to know who is behind it please help
Name is @thunderman.089
Hi Delarue,
Our team have contacted you via email.
@trillionaire17. This person gives me death threats from a fake tiktok account i want to know who’s behind this account
Hi Talal,
Our team have reached out via email.
This person make a fake account using my picture. I want to know who behind this fake tiktok account.
Fake account Tiktok – @hasscha6
Hi Aeddy,
Our team have reached out via email.
an account called alfie_ferrari texting me and its a fake account i want to find out whos behind it
Hi Becs, we’re sorry to hear about your situation. Please complete our contact form and an investigator will be in contact with you. https://www.cybertrace.com.au/contact/
This person make a fake account using my picture. I want to know who behind this fake tiktok account
Hi Abby,
Our team have reached out via email.
I know a family member being catfished on TikTok the real account has already confirmed he only has one account but the fake account continues using his videos! The person being catfished is in denial and I need help finding out who this person behind this fake account is!!
Hi Indi,
Our team have reached out via email.
Hi this person keep spam comment and dm me and my friend can you find out who behind this account https://www.tiktok.com/@riddieee6?_t=8sN1koJoCQs&_r=1
Hi Dennisarah,
Our team have reached out via email.
Hii, this person has been harassing me on my tiktok comments please help me find who is behind this tiktok account: https://www.tiktok.com/@mekorana496?_t=8rZZGUqWuLH&_r=1
Hi Arshiya,
Our team have reached out via email.
Hi, please help me find out who is impersonating my sister on TikTok. This is the fake account:
https://www.tiktok.com/@iamzahrax_?_t=8rQb3P2I0lE&_r=1
Hi Aaliah,
Our team have reached out via email.
https://www.tiktok.com/@hafiz.baloch410?_t=8pyERj8rp1G&_r=1
this tiktok ID uploaded family pics and blackmail family.
i want to known about this account and location trace pleas.
Hi Zainab,
Our team have reached out via email
Please help me find a person who comments under people’s videos calling them racial slurs & perpetuating hateful behaviour. The info I have so far is: the account is @stoicfx01, a trader that lives in Cape Town, South Africa. I have screenshots of his comments & account QR code if needed.
Hi Nicole,
Our team have reached out via email.
Is ok I need to find who comment down in my TikTok bad bad
Hi Saqib,
Our team have reached out via email.