#WeekForTruth: Dealing with impersonation on social media? Here is what to do

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How did you feel the last time your favourite celebrity or influencer entered your DM on Facebook, asking you for money? I bet you almost sent it before you realised they weren’t your “GOAT.” Or maybe you sent it and later discovered you fell for a scam. Accept my sympathy, but that shouldn’t happen again, right?

In an age where social media dominates communication, the impersonation of public figures has become a pressing issue. Anyone with a significant online presence, from celebrities to politicians and influencers, is already a victim of this practice. 

Social media impersonation is creating fake profiles, pages, or accounts that closely resemble genuine ones. These fraudulent accounts aim to mislead users into believing they are engaging with a genuine individual or organisation.

Impersonators create fake profiles that mimic the identity of these individuals and use them to pass false information, commit financial fraud and, sometimes, reputational damages. The implications of social media impersonation are multifaceted and can have severe consequences, including: 

1. Sharing false information

Fake accounts can spread false information, make inappropriate comments, or engage in unethical behaviour that reflects poorly on the impersonated individual. For instance, if a celebrity’s fake account posts controversial opinions or offensive content, it can lead to public backlash and damage their brand image. 

One example is a recent investigation by DUBAWA, where fraudsters impersonated the Nigeria Customs Service to auction vehicles on Facebook. Another example involved how parody X accounts were deployed in the last Sierra Leone presidential election. You can read both cases here and here.

2. Committing financial fraud

Impersonators often exploit stolen identities for financial gain. They may solicit money from you under the guise of being public figures or even engage in scams that could lead to significant economic losses for victims. For example, an impersonator might create a fake fundraising campaign using your favourite celebrity’s name and likeness, diverting funds for charitable causes. They might even pose as your favourite brand, asking you to invest money as they did with the BBC and Vanguard. In the past, DUBAWA has caught several others who posed as President Bola Tinubu, Jumia, Zenith Bank, TVC, and Peter Okoye (P Square), offering opportunities ranging from jobs to giveaways and investments just to defraud unsuspecting users like you.

Is it legal to impersonate someone on social media?

In Nigeria, impersonation of any kind is considered a crime. Section 484 of the Criminal Code Act states, “Any person who, with intent to defraud any person, falsely represents himself to be some other person, living or dead, is guilty of a felony, and is liable to imprisonment for three years.”

Many have been prosecuted for impersonation in the past. In fact, one Ikpaka Courage was recently sentenced to two years imprisonment for impersonating Nigerian singer Chinedu Okoli, famously known as Flavour, on Telegram.

But you may ask, “How do I recognise a fake account?” Well, if you can identify one or a combination of the following, you might be dealing with a fake account:

• Parody accounts mostly don’t have a verification badge
• The username may be misspelt or written with unusual characters
• Accounts may have fewer followers than the impersonated
• They promise monetary giveaways
• They request for monetary support
• They solely promote a particular narrative, product or service

What should you do next?

Most social media platforms have a feature that lets you report suspicious accounts. After you have used tools like TwitterAudit and Account Analysis to identify inauthentic accounts on X, take the steps below to report such:

1. Open the impersonator’s profile.
2. Click the three dots (more options) icon near the top of the profile.
3. Select “Report” from the dropdown menu.
4. Choose the reason for the report (e.g., impersonation of yourself or someone else).
5. Follow the on-screen prompts to provide details about the impersonation and submit your report.

For Facebook

1. Go to the impersonator’s profile or page.
2. Click on the three dots (or more) under the cover photo.
3. For pages, select “Find support or report Page”; for profiles, choose “Find support or report Profile.”
4. Follow the on-screen prompts, selecting “Impersonation” as the issue, and complete your report.

For Instagram

1. Visit the impersonator’s profile by tapping or clicking their username.
2. Click the three dots near their username.
3. Select “Report” and then choose “Report Account.”
4. Choose “They’re pretending to be someone else” from the options provided.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to specify the type of impersonation and complete your report.

As you do this, also be mindful that you could be impersonated. To prevent impersonation, limit the amount of personal information you post online, enhance your social media passwords, and activate two-factor authentication. 

Above all, whenever you encounter unbelievable information, trust your instincts and verify it with reliable sources. Where and when you cannot verify it, forward such information to DUBAWA or tag us on our social media handles. 

Read more on how to spot parody accounts on social media here and here.