Report Facebook profile clone?

My friend’s Facebook profile has sent me a friends request, but it isn’t them;

Why has my friend sent me a new friends request?

It has become a bit of a regular event on Facebook now, when someone with a lot of followers, using a ''personal profile'' ends up having some nefarious ne'er-do-well trying to exploit the said persons followers

Generally by 'cloning' their profile it gives them the opportunity to add their followers as a friend and try to get precious information from them, or worse, get financial information vis messenger.

Needless to say we need to be on our guard and where we can, report the fake account

!! Remember, there may be some cases where our friends have a GENUINE reason to create a second account, where they have locked themselves out of it, or simply need two, one for business, one for personal, so it is always best to check !!

How on earth do I report this to Facebook

Depending on which device you are using whether mobile, PC, Mac tablet; whether you are using an application, (app), or a web browser, this process will differ. However, ALL versions of the Facebook application WILL have the facility to do this.

This version is based on Windows PC/Laptop on a web browser. Click on the three dots along from the ‘Posts, About, Friends’ etc tab, and then click 'Report Profile'

As you can see from the subsequent menu, you have a lot of options, which you can use to report various issues.

In this occasion select the, ‘Fake profile’ option

Again, you are given multiple options dependant on what the issue is, so let’s hit the ‘A Friend'

Start typing in the 'Name' field and the person who has been cloned will appear.

Just click on the profile desired and then next

Now you have the summary screen to check you have entered the correct information

If you are happy, click the 'Submit' button

Facebook rely on it's community to help it fix these fake accounts so the more 'Friends' of the cloned person reports the fake account, the better it is and quicker Facebook takes it down

… and that’s it! You have reported the account as a fake.

This has been sent to the platform who will take appropriate action, oh and just in case you are cnfused about the fact that it says you have blocked, and hidden posts from your friend, this notice relates to the fake account NOT the original

Where else can I go to get help or report something

Phone help

Police non emergency in the UK Call 101

Action Fraud 0300 123 2040

Citizens Advice England 0800 144 8848

Citizens Advice Wales 0800 702 2020

Citizens Advice Scotland 0800 028 1456

Citizens Advice Northern Ireland [check the website for your local centre]

Victim Support 0808 168 9111

Samaritans (24hrs) free 116 123

Age UK 0800 169 6565

Website for help