Fraud Through Fake Accounts: Stay Alert in the Digital World

A social media profile does not always belong to the person it claims to represent. Scammers create accounts impersonating acquaintances, managers, sellers or organisations to gain trust. Sometimes they take over a genuine account and send messages as its owner. This deception can lead to financial loss and the exposure of personal information.

A fake profile may contain someone else’s photograph, an organisation’s logo and copied information. Follower counts, older posts and a familiar writing style are not guarantees either. A new account or limited profile information alone does not prove fraud, but requests for money or confidential details require independent verification.

Demands to “send money immediately,” “tell nobody” or “send a verification code” are warning signs. If the sender appears to be someone you know, call them using a number you already have. For an organisation, confirm the request through its official website or an independently found contact channel. Do not rely solely on contact details supplied by the suspicious profile.

Students and staff should also check unusual instructions appearing to come from a manager, dean’s office or colleague. Verify requests before transferring money, sending documents or providing account access information. Urgency should not be a reason to skip verification.

Avoid unnecessarily publishing your telephone number, identity documents, address or daily plans. Review privacy settings, use a unique password for each account and enable two-step verification where available. Never send anyone your passwords or login codes.

If you discover an account impersonating you, preserve the profile address, messages and relevant screenshots. Report it to the platform and warn your contacts through a trusted channel. A copied profile does not automatically mean your genuine account has been compromised. If your account has been taken over, use the official recovery process. For harm involving money or banking information, contact your bank and the police.