How This Scam Works
1
Scammer copies your name, profile photo, and public information to create a duplicate account.
2
They send friend requests to your contacts, claiming to have been locked out of their original account.
3
Once accepted, they message your friends asking for money, promoting scam investments, or sending malicious links.
4
Each successful impersonation provides more contacts to target, creating a chain effect.
Warning Signs
Friend request from someone you are already connected with
New account using your friend's photos but with a slightly different name
Messages from 'friends' asking for money or promoting investments
Friends reporting they received strange messages from 'you'
Link sharing from accounts that look like yours but are not
Real Examples
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How to Protect Yourself
Set your social media profiles and friend lists to private
Verify duplicate friend requests by contacting the person directly
Report impersonation accounts to the platform immediately
Use strong, unique passwords for each social media account
Enable two-factor authentication on all social media accounts
Limit publicly visible photos and personal information
Frequently Asked Questions
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Help Protect Others
Share this scam report to warn friends and family.