Someone copied your account? Save these details.
Save the suspicious profile link, screenshots of the misleading claim, a link to your real account, and the date you checked. Then use the site’s own report form. You can start collecting this without running a search.
See the checklist1. Save the exact account and post links
Copy the full profile URL and the URLs of any posts or messages involved. A display name alone is not enough: several accounts can use it. Record the username exactly, including punctuation.
2. Take screenshots that show the claim
Capture the username, profile photo, bio and the part that claims to be you or your business. For a suspicious message, keep the sender and surrounding conversation visible. Save the originals privately; redact unrelated people’s details from copies you share.
3. Add a link to the real account
Use your own website or an established account that links to your real profile. Explain what was copied or misrepresented, such as a photo, name, bio or payment request. A matching username or photo alone does not prove impersonation.
4. Write down when and where you saw it
Record the date, time and time zone, the site, and what you observed. Keep facts separate from guesses. If the page is unavailable, record that rather than assuming it was deleted.
5. Report it through the site’s own tools
Use the report option on the account or the platform’s official help centre. Attach the links, screenshots and short explanation it asks for. Save the confirmation or case number and any reply so you can follow up.
A short report you can adapt
Replace the brackets with your details. Describe what you actually saw.
I am reporting [profile URL] because it claims to be [me / my business] by [specific claim or copied detail].
My real account or website is [trusted URL]. I saw the reported page on [date, time and time zone].
I have attached screenshots showing [what they show] and links to [specific posts, if relevant]. Please review the account for impersonation.
Keep passwords and verification codes out of your report. If a platform requests identification, submit it only through its official process.
Where to report and what to keep
Follow the platform’s current instructions. For example, X’s impersonation reporting guide distinguishes reports from the person being impersonated from reports by a bystander. Requirements vary by site.
Keep a private folder with the links, original screenshots, your report text and the case number. Use the incident log guide if the same account keeps returning. A report does not guarantee removal.
Copied content and impersonation are different issues. For copied work, see the copyright evidence checklist. For a fake support message, see how to check a support account.
Need to look for other matching profiles?
ProfileTrace searches usernames across ~4,000 sites. Find other public profiles using the same handle and open their links for review.
Search a Username Free