Learn How to Identify a Fake Social Media Account
Social media has become an important part of our daily lives. With more than half of the world’s population being social media users as of October 2024, social media is used as a tool for individuals or organisations to communicate and share content for personal connections or professional networks. To learn how to identify a fake social media account, read on.
But if we dig a little deeper, there is a different side to social media behind the real-time life updates, curated posts, and online personas. Fake accounts have been popping up and rising in numbers posing risks to our privacy and security. These accounts are created not just to deceive people by pretending to be someone else but they also spread misinformation, harass other people, financially scam others, and more.
Knowing how to spot a fake social media account is vital whether it is spotting a bot, scammer, or hacker. It might be a little bit daunting, out looking out for these red flags can make your time online much safer. Below are some tips you can use to learn how to spot a fake social media account.
Pictures
Fake accounts often use stock photos or images stolen from other places online. Pictures with low resolutions can be a warning signal when the account allegedly belongs to a public figure or celebrity. Scammers may also use AI-generated photos making it more difficult to spot if they are genuine or not. Google offers a reverse image search, and another popular free tool is TinEye. https://tineye.com/ These resources are great free tools that offer reverse image searches. If you find the same person all over the internet or identify numerous online aliases, it’s pretty safe to say the social media account is fake.
Sparse or Empty Bio
Check if the account lacks personal details about the person. Fake profiles often have little to no information. They could have just a few random words or nothing at all. If an account has a vague or incomplete bio, be cautious. If the profile claims to be a celebrity, public figure, or someone from a reputable company, but nothing is backing up those claims, it is most probably not true.
Questionable Content and Engagement
Examine the dates when posts are published. Some fake accounts are made in a hurry, and the fraudster uploads all the photos or content within a short amount of time so they can look for potential victims right away. Most social media platforms allow you to see when new posts and content are uploaded.
Additionally, a real account typically posts regularly and interacts with other accounts. Fake accounts, however, may have very little content or publish content that doesn’t align with the user’s supposed identity. An account that has a high number of followers but very few comments or likes might be fake. If an account has many connections, friends, or followers, you should expect to see a reasonable amount of engagement with their posts. Fraudsters sometimes purchase fake followers, meaning they have a large following, but very little engagement from others. This can be a good indication that you’re dealing with a fake account.
Creation Date
Check when the account itself has been made. Most real accounts have been around for years, collecting an active history under its belt. If an account has just recently been created, this could be a red flag. Sometimes scammers and imposters will also say in the bio something like “old account hacked”, trying to justify why their supposed real account is so new and has such little content and engagement.
Other Social Media Presence
Almost everyone has an account across multiple social media platforms. Dig into their other social media accounts with a quick Google search of their name and you’ll find out if they have Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok among others. Check if their posts match all throughout or if they even have an online presence outside of the account you are having doubts about.
What if even after going through all these tips you are still unsure if the account you are interacting with is fake? Our social media investigators can assist with a formal investigation, to confirm if an account is real or identify who is operating it. Social media should be a hassle-free experience and an exciting way to connect with others but always remember to be cautious about who you are engaging with online.
