Short answer
Run a reverse image search with the photos you post most — Google’s search with an image (Google Lens) and TinEye — and search each platform for your name and old usernames. Before reporting, save the evidence: the profile’s web address, the username and dated screenshots. Then report each fake through the platform’s impersonation option (“pretending to be someone” → “me”). Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn and others remove accounts that pretend to be you, and often ask for a photo of your ID to confirm it is really you reporting. If the fake uses your photos under another name, report it anyway — and if you took the photos yourself, a copyright report is a second route. Warn your contacts, and involve the police if the profile is used for scams, threats or intimate images.
Find where your photos are used
- Google Lens: on a computer, open Google Images and choose search by image, then upload a photo or paste its address; on a phone, use Lens in the Google app. Google shows pages with matching and similar images.
- TinEye: upload the image or paste its URL to see where that exact picture appears online, including edited and resized copies.
- Search the platforms directly for your name, nicknames and old usernames — including variations with an extra letter, a dot or an underscore.
- Ask friends to tell you if they get a friend request or message from a second “you”.
Before you report: save the evidence
- The profile’s URL, not just the display name — names can be changed in seconds, the address usually stays.
- The username and any linked email or phone number shown on the profile.
- Dated screenshots of the profile, its posts and any messages it sent to people you know.
- Who was contacted and what was asked — money, codes, photos.
Don’t message the impersonator: it can warn them to change the profile before it is reviewed.
Where to report
| Platform | How to report | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Profile → ⋯ → Report → pretending to be someone → me. No account? Use the impersonation form in the Help Center | The form asks for a photo of your ID. See removing a fake Instagram account | |
| Profile → ⋯ → Find support or report → pretending to be someone → me; there is also a form for impostor accounts | ID may be requested. See reporting a fake Facebook profile | |
| TikTok | Profile → share or ⋯ → Report → pretending to be someone, or TikTok’s impersonation report form | Proof that you are the person shown. See TikTok impersonation |
| Profile → More → Report or block → impersonation | See reporting a fake LinkedIn profile | |
| Other platforms | Use the built-in report option and choose impersonation or fake account | Formal requests usually need proof of identity |
When it’s your face but not your name
Catfish profiles often pair your photos with a different name — a common ingredient of romance scams, which is why the FTC tells people to reverse-image-search the photos of online partners. That is still a violation: report the account as pretending to be someone, explain that you are the person in the photos, and add links to your own profiles as proof. If you took the photos yourself, you usually hold the copyright, so the platform’s copyright form is a second route that does not depend on the impersonation review. For intimate images, see removing leaked intimate images; for AI-altered pictures, getting deepfakes removed; for copies in search results, Google content removal.
After the profile comes down
- Tell your contacts — a short post or story stops people trusting the copy if it reappears.
- Limit who sees your photos: a private account, a smaller audience for old albums, fewer public profile pictures.
- Repeat the reverse image search every few weeks; fakes are often recreated with a new username.
- Go to the police if the profile was used for fraud, threats, harassment or intimate images, and bring the evidence you saved.
Frequently asked questions
Can I report a fake profile if I don’t have an account on that platform?
Yes, on many platforms. Instagram, for example, has an impersonation form for people without an account, and Facebook has a form for reporting impostor accounts.
Do I have to send my ID?
Often, yes. Platforms ask for a photo of an ID to confirm that the report comes from the person being impersonated, not from someone trying to get a real account removed.
The fake profile uses my photos under another name. Can it still be removed?
Yes. Report it as pretending to be someone and explain that the photos are of you. If you took the photos yourself, you can also file a copyright report.
Can I find out who is behind the fake profile?
Platforms generally don’t share account holders’ details with other users. If the profile is used for a crime, the police can request that information through legal channels.
Sources: Google Search Help — search with an image, TinEye — reverse image search, Instagram Help Center — impersonation, Facebook Help — report a profile pretending to be you, TikTok Help Center — report an impersonation account, FTC — what to know about romance scams