- Facebook Account Cloning Scams
What You Need to Know
If a friend receives a Facebook friend request that appears to be from you, your account likely hasn’t been hacked, it’s been cloned. Scammers create fake profiles using your name, photos, and basic details to trick others into believing it’s you. Once people accept the fake request, criminals exploit that trust to spread scams, share malicious links, or steal personal information.
Facebook estimates over 60 million cloned accounts exist globally, even including duplicates of its founder, Mark Zuckerberg. These clones are often used to impersonate users, solicit money, or spread malware. Unfortunately, despite Facebook’s ongoing removal efforts, scammers easily re-create accounts using the same stolen images and slightly altered usernames. This makes cloning a recurring threat for anyone with a social media presence.
What You Should Do
If you discover that your Facebook profile has been cloned—or a friend alerts you—take immediate action.
- Report the Fake Profile: Use Facebook’s official reporting tool at facebook.com/help/306643639690823 to report cloned accounts for removal.
- Warn Your Friends: Let your contacts know not to accept duplicate friend requests from you or share personal information with any suspicious profiles.
- Secure Your Real Account:
– Create a strong, unique password to prevent hacking attempts.
– Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for added login protection — learn how here.
– Adjust privacy settings to control who can view your posts, photos, and friend list (privacy settings guide). - Stay Skeptical: If someone you know suddenly messages you asking for money or sharing a strange link, verify their identity through a separate communication channel.
Taking these precautions not only helps protect your own account but also safeguards your friends and family from falling victim to social media scams.
Think you are being scammed? Call our scam hotline or email us for help:
(801)-724-6211
scamwatch@invisus.com
