Recently, Facebook reached 2.3 billion users. Facebook once estimated that more than 10% of these accounts are duplicates or fakes. Facebook has implemented several measures to identify fake profiles, but they are insufficient. How can we trust someone on Facebook? Read on to find out.
Why do people make Fake Facebook profiles?
Examining the “about” part of a Facebook profile is an excellent approach to recognizing a fake. Genuine Facebook users enjoy detailing their accomplishments, and they would adequately include their high school, college, prior and present employment, etc. If the about part is blank, the account can be a hoax. It’s acceptable if someone supports a celebrity but refrains from posting all of that celebrity’s profile images on their Facebook page.
As was previously mentioned, online criminals create fictitious Facebook profiles to friend users and access their data. Their motive is identity theft. They can make money by directly opening credit cards or loans in someone else’s name using this confidential information. They might also on-sell the data so others can do it, which is more likely.
People also create a false Facebook profile solely for financial gain. Due to the high prices paid by businesses and individuals to increase the number of fans and page likes, buying and selling Facebook fans is a multimillion-dollar industry.
How Can We Spot a Fake Facebook profile?
According to experts, a “bot (also known as a “web robot”) or a “malicious human” can run a fake account. Regardless of type, there are several indicators that a statement is false. Avoid the account at all costs if it exhibits three or more of these indicators:
Beauty
A person’s profile photo is the first thing you see on Facebook. By glancing at a profile, you can determine whether it is accurate or fake. Here are some issues with the profile image that you should view. Bots take advantage of this and frequently display images of stunningly attractive people on their pages. Why? We are only human. Thus, the likelihood of people accepting a friend request improves noticeably when the photo is stunning.
No Pictures
The profile owner needs to use the Facebook name to upload a profile photo, which is already concerning if it is not there. Bots don’t typically upload many pictures and don’t spend much time fleshing out their personal life because their goal is to expend as little effort as possible to give the impression that a real person is behind the account.
Bizarre biography
It’s probably not an authentic account if the biography information on the history sounds fanciful or just plain implausible.
An unresponsive account
Bots can accept friend requests with ease, but they are unable to reply to messages. Sending a message and seeing what you hear back is an excellent small test, so use it if you’re unsure.
Blank Wall
A fake account will always have a blank wall. Be wary if your potential new friend has little activity or only a few likes.
Many Favorites
Some accounts run by bots are programmed to like a certain number of pages daily. Be cautious because this can build up over time. Additionally, it is a symptom of a fake account when you notice several trends. False account builders fill in well-known and commonplace items to make their accounts appear authentic without going into depth. It might be the famous names of notable locations like New York, California, Los Angeles, or Texas, or the names of prominent universities like Harvard, New York, or Stanford.
An ideal profile photo
People frequently take photos using their phone cameras, which aren’t always ideal. If you see a picture of a model with the perfect lighting and viewpoint, it could be a fake. You can save a profile photo to your computer and use Google Image Search to check whether it is accurate. When you upload it to Google Images, you will get all the information needed if someone else is a part of the image. Right-clicking the profile picture and selecting Save Image As will allow you to save it to your computer.
- Click the camera icon in Google Image Search to access it now.
- Select the profile photo by clicking on Choose file, then click Upload an image.
- View the About Page
There is only one profile photo
Facebook users who do not change their profile images frequently could be fake. If a profile has just one photo and is less than three years old, that should raise some red flags.
Consult the timeline
It’s time to read the timeline now. An account is for marketing if a person posts too many links to one or more websites that include a lot of advertisements. This account is also probably fraudulent. Facebook users post various types of content, including jokes, music, videos, and images. Additionally, they discuss activities like listening, reading, and traveling. It could also be a clue of a fake account if you don’t see posts in such varied categories. Navigate over the timeline to see what users are sharing and contrast it with earlier shares. The shifting information on the timetable indicates the same.
Verify Friends List
Check your friend list now; a natural person would want to connect with additional people in their area. It can be a fake profile if you notice so many international friends and none or very few local friends. Why would someone from New York interact with so many people from the Saudi Arabian Emirates?
You should be careful if the user has 3–4K friends on a girl’s profile. Genuine girls on Facebook typically have few friends and don’t interact with strangers. Reject the friend request and block the sender if you notice that they have a lot of bogus friends.
Verify Other Names in Profile and URL
Numerous fake Facebook profiles use distinct names in the shape and the URL. It occurs when a real person’s Facebook profile is hacked and used in another person’s name or when a user uses the account for one thing, and then the name is changed to promote another.
For instance, someone might start an account to advertise products to Americans but later decide to use the same account to promote products to Saudi Arabs, so they alter the name. A separate term in the URL and profile alone does not necessarily mean the report is a fake, but when combined with other evidence, it may be apparent.
What should I do if a fake account ticks me off?
When you suspect a fake Facebook profile, you can examine the posts’ lack of interactions. Carefully review the profile, click on the images, and look at the comments and likes. It shows that a Facebook profile is fake when there are a lot of likes and general comments on pictures of girls’ accounts, such as “beautiful,” “cute,” and “sweet,” and the account holder doesn’t respond to any of them. A sincere person will at least say “thank you” when someone comments on their photo.
Another red flag is when you have an extensive friend list, but only a tiny percentage of them like and comment on the postings. Click the “More” button to view other activities, such as check-ins, music, movies, TV shows, etc.
Conclusion
The most crucial thing is NOT to accept a friend request from the account or follow it. Click the “report” button to inform Facebook about the history. It’s worthwhile to report the version because Facebook will look into it when they receive roughly 10 to 20 reports about it.
