Impersonation
Someone creating an account pretending to be you or your brand. A reportable violation of Meta's community policies on both Instagram and Facebook.
Written by Shilder Recovery TeamReviewed by Shilder Editorial ReviewLast reviewed 2026-05-15
Impersonation on Meta platforms means a separate account using your name, likeness, brand, or identity in a way meant to deceive — not a parody or clearly-labeled fan account.
Examples
- Account using your real name and your profile photo.
- Fake business page using your brand name to scam your customers.
- Username variants (extra dot, similar spelling) designed to confuse your audience.
- Account messaging your followers pretending to be you.
Reporting
Use Instagram’s impersonation form or Facebook’s equivalent. Provide:
- The impersonator’s exact @username.
- Photo ID matching your name (or business registration for brand impersonation).
- Clear screenshots showing the use of your identity.
Most legitimate reports resolve in 24–72 hours. Verified accounts get faster removals.
See Instagram impersonation removal for the full process.