If you have ever fallen victim to a fake or fraudulent profile, you may have lost money or given over sensitive information as a result. Fake profiles are one of the most common phishing scams online and it is helpful to know how to protect yourself. A fake or fraudulent profile is one that is created to mimic that of a celebrity, business, organization, or influencer.
It can also be used to mimic a popular service or personal profile of someone who runs a business on Instagram such as a psychic business. These fake profiles will have all of the same information as the original profile but there are some telltale signs you can look for to spot the scammers. In this article, we will discuss six of the main ways to spot fake profiles so you can avoid being scammed.
1.) Look at the number of followers
Whether it’s a Facebook profile or an Instagram account, the number of followers is always a telltale sign. If it’s a profile for a celebrity, business, or well-known influencer, the follower count should be in the upper hundred thousands and even up to a million or more. However, fake account holders simply don’t have the time to build up that large of a following. This is why the follower count is such a telltale sign. If you notice that this number is unusually low, then you can be sure that the account you are about to follow isn’t the real one.
2.) Identify the number of pictures and posts
Another giveaway about the legitimacy of a profile is the number of pictures. Usually, a real account will have many thousands of pictures and posts from the account holder. Although some popular accounts have fewer posts than others, they will still show a variety of pictures that represent the account holder. However, if you notice that there are only a few posts and pictures available, you may want to double-check and make sure as to whether or not the account is real or fake.
3.) Check For Comments and Interactions
Facebook has released data that shows that almost 83 million accounts are fake. For this reason, it’s even more important to be diligent when using popular sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. One of the main ways that you can spot fake profiles is to check for the comments and interactions on the profile. If you notice that the comments and posts by fans and followers are few and far between, even if the account has a high follower count, this is a red flag. Some fake accounts will also have comments from users stating that the account is fake. Checking the overall engagement of a profile is the main way to tell whether or not you are following a real account.
4.) The Ratio of Followers to Following
If you are browsing on Instagram and see one of your favorite influencers and you follow them, you may want to check that the account is real. One of the primary ways to do this is by viewing the followers to following ratio. If you notice that the amount of followers is much less than those that the account is following, you can be pretty certain that the account is not real. Fake accounts that are trying to grow very quickly will need to follow a lot of other accounts to do so. This is why you will notice that the number of accounts they are following are so high.
5.) The Bio Seems To Be Missing Information
In many instances, fake profiles will simply copy the bio of the original account so you won’t be able to tell the difference. However, some fake profiles will try to get creative and write their bio. If you notice that the bio seems off or seems to be missing information, you may want to look a little closer to make sure that you are following the right account.
6.) Look For a Verified Logo
On both Instagram and TikTok, accounts can become verified after they have reached a certain follower count. There are also other markers that must be met before the account can be verified. If you notice that a very popular account is missing this verified logo, it could be possible that the account isn’t actually owned by the person or company that you thought. This is one of the most secure ways to tell whether or not a profile is real or a scam.
By keeping these tips and guidelines in mind, you can be sure of finding out whether or not a profile is real or fake. You can always take the time to double-check these things especially if you are purchasing a product or service from a link attached to one of these accounts. Stay safe and always look for these main pointers to ensure your security while online.
Have you had a different experience with dealing with fake, fraudulent profiles or do you have something else to add, that we might have left out? If so,we would love to hear it! Leave your opinion in the comments below. We hope you enjoyed our review and we’ll see you in the next review.
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