How to protect your brand from fake account creation

Last updated on: July 19, 2024

The rise of social media is nothing new. As of 2024, more than 62% (a 5.4% increase from 2023) of the world’s population uses social media. In fact, for most people, it’s a part of everyday life with users spending an average of 2 hours and 20 minutes on social platforms every day. And with this global popularity comes the proliferation of fake account creation. 

The creation of fake accounts is a growing problem that doesn’t just affect individual users. If fake accounts are made to imitate your brand, they can tarnish the reputation of your business and erode customer trust. That’s protecting your brand from impersonation has never been more critical. In this blog, we’ll explore the risks and consequences of fake account creation and provide practical solutions to help you detect and prevent this issue. 

What is fake account creation?

Fake account creation involves setting up fraudulent profiles on social media platforms, often using false or stolen information. They can take various forms, including impersonating real people or businesses, creating fictitious personas, or using a combination of real and fake information. Some fake accounts are sophisticated, with detailed profiles and active engagement, making them difficult to detect without advanced tools. Others are more obvious, with minimal information and erratic behavior that gives them away. 

These accounts can be created manually or using automated bots. The aim is to deceive users, whether for phishing, spreading malware or misinformation, or other malicious activities. Fake accounts can also be used to manipulate social media algorithms, increasing the visibility of certain content or hashtags, which can mislead genuine users.

Why are fake accounts created? 

Understanding the reasons that scammers create fake accounts can help you to develop targeted strategies to combat them. By recognizing the common tactics used, businesses can better protect themselves and their customers. Fake accounts serve various purposes:

1. Phishing and scams

Accounts created for this purpose will deceive users into providing personal information or financial details.

2. Spreading misinformation

These accounts share false information to manipulate public opinion.

3. Malware distribution

Some fake accounts share harmful links that can compromise user security.

4. Financial fraud

Fake social accounts may conduct fraudulent transactions or promotions to steal money.

5. Brand sabotage

Some scammers aim to damage a brand’s reputation by impersonating it and interacting negatively with customers.

6. Increasing follower counts

Some fake accounts are used to artificially increase follower counts or engagement metrics for individuals or brands, making them appear more popular than they are.

7. Competitive sabotage

Competitors may create fake accounts to spread negative information or reviews about a rival company to gain a competitive edge.

How fake account creation affects brands

Fake accounts can have devastating effects on brands.

Damage to reputation

Impersonation can lead to misinformation and negative interactions, damaging the brand’s image. For example, fake accounts can post offensive content or spread false information, leading to public backlash against the real brand.

Loss of customer trust

Customers may lose trust in a legitimate brand if they fall victim to scams or misleading information from fake accounts. Trust is key for any brand, and once lost, it can be hard to regain.

Financial losses

Fraudulent activities can result in direct financial losses for both the brand and its customers. This can include chargebacks from fraudulent transactions, the costs associated with mitigating the effects of a scam, and lost sales as a result of damaged brand reputation.

User experience

Fake accounts can degrade the overall user experience, making the platform less enjoyable and secure. Genuine users may be bombarded with spam or unwanted messages, leading to frustration and disengagement.

Data security

Fake accounts can be used to collect sensitive information, posing a significant risk to data security. Personal data collected through phishing schemes can be used for identity theft or sold on the dark web.

Inaccurate analytics

Fake accounts can skew marketing analytics and performance metrics, making it difficult for brands to accurately measure the effectiveness of their campaigns. This can lead to misinformed business decisions and wasted marketing budgets.

How to detect fake accounts

Detecting fake accounts requires a combination of manual strategies and advanced tools.

Manual Strategies

Profile analysis: Check for incomplete profiles, generic images, and inconsistent activity. Fake accounts often have minimal profile information and use stock photos or images that can be found elsewhere on the internet.

Engagement patterns: Identify unusual engagement patterns like repetitive comments or sudden spikes in followers. Fake accounts often behave erratically, liking and commenting on posts at an unusual rate.

User reports: Encourage genuine users to report suspicious accounts, as they are often the first to notice suspicious behavior. Their reports can help identify and remove fake accounts.

Advanced Tools

AI and machine learning: Use algorithms that detect and flag suspicious behavior. These technologies can analyze large volumes of data to identify patterns and anomalies that may point to fake accounts.

Behavioral analytics: Monitor user behavior to identify behavior that suggests fake activity. For example, fake accounts may have unusual login times or locations, or interact with content in ways that aren’t consistent with genuine user behavior.

Bot detection software: Use tools that can distinguish between human and bot activities. Bot detection software can analyze the speed and frequency of interactions to pinpoint automated behavior.

Social listening tools: Use tools to monitor mentions of your brand and identify potential impersonations. They can also track keywords and hashtags related to your brand to identify fake accounts attempting to deceive customers.

How to report fake accounts

Reporting fake accounts is important for maintaining a safe social media environment. Document any interactions or evidence of impersonation, as this can help platforms investigate and take action more quickly. Keep screenshots of the fake account, messages, and any other relevant information. 

Here’s how to report impersonation on major platforms:

Facebook

• Go to the fake profile.
• Click on the three dots under the cover photo.
• Select “Report.”
• Follow the instructions to report the account.

Instagram

• Go to the fake profile.
• Tap the three dots on the top right.
• Select “Report.”
• Choose “Report Account” and follow the prompts.

X

• Go to the fake profile.
• Click on the three dots next to the follow button.
• Select “Report [User Name].”
• Choose “Impersonation” and follow the instructions.

LinkedIn

• Go to the fake profile.
• Click on the “More” button.
• Select “Report/Block.”
• Choose “Report this profile” and follow the prompts.

TikTok

• Go to the fake profile.
• Tap the three dots on the top right.
• Select “Report.”
• Choose “Report account” and follow the prompts.

How to prevent fake account creation

Brands can help to prevent fake accounts by adopting best practices and using advanced technologies. These solutions can reduce the risk of fake account creation and help maintain the integrity of your brand on social media.

Strong verification processes

Implement multi-factor authentication to verify new accounts. This can include email or phone number verification, as well as CAPTCHA tests to deter bots.

Regular monitoring

Continuously monitor account activities for signs of fraud. Regular audits can help identify and remove fake accounts before they can cause significant harm.

User education

Educate your audience on how to identify and report fake accounts. Provide resources and guidance on how to recognize signs of impersonation and what steps to take if they find a fake account.

Bot protection

Employ real-time bot protection to stop automated fake account creation. Tools like reCAPTCHA and other bot prevention technologies can help eliminate fake accounts.

Fraud detection technologies

Cutting-edge tools detect and prevent fraudulent activities by analyzing user behavior and flagging suspicious activities in real time.

Red Points Social Media Solution

Red Points’s Social Media Solution is an AI-powered tool that addresses large-scale impersonation and fake account creation. This technology provides real-time monitoring, detection, and removal of fake accounts, so your brand remains protected on social media.

It includes features such as:

• Real-time scanning of social media platforms to identify fake accounts.
• Automated submission of removal requests to social media platforms.
• Detailed analytics and reporting on fake account activities and take-down progress.

What’s next

Combating fake account creation is the first step to protecting your brand on social media and keeping your customers’ trust. You can use the support tools provided by social media platforms, and strengthen your brand protection strategy with Red Points’s Social Media Solution for an extra layer of security. 

Stay vigilant, educate your team and customers, and use the best tools available to protect your brand from the ever-evolving threat of fake account creation. Take action now: request a demo today to start safeguarding your brand – and your customers – from fake accounts.