Scammers are using my name to target my followers
It usually starts with a message from a follower: "Is this really you?" Someone is writing to your audience in your name, promising prizes, deals or private access, and asking for money in return. It is stressful, because the people being targeted are the ones who trust you most. It is not your fault, and you are not the only one it happens to.
This can be handled. The accounts behind it break every major platform's rules, your audience can be warned quickly, and the accounts can be taken down. Here is how these scams usually work and what to do first.
Why scammers go after your followers
Your followers already know your face and your name. That trust is what the scammer wants to borrow. A message that seems to come from you gets opened, read and answered far more readily than one from a stranger.
These scams rarely use one account. They often run several lookalike profiles at once, reply under your posts from accounts with your photo, and send private messages to people who just liked or commented on your content.
The scams that come up most
- Fake giveaways: "You won! Pay a small fee for shipping" or "send your card details to claim the prize".
- Investment and trading offers: a "tip" or a "private group" you supposedly run, with a promise of easy profit.
- Fake exclusive content: a payment link for private photos, videos or a "close friends" list in your name.
- Fake collaborations or support: requests for login codes, "verification" or personal details.
- Personal emergencies: a sudden story about needing help, aimed at your closest followers.
The common thread is always the same: money or information, asked for in a private message, in your name. Making that clear to your audience is the strongest protection they have.
Telling your followers without alarming them
A calm, clear message works best. Tell your audience which accounts are really yours, that you never ask for money or codes in private messages, and that anyone who does is not you. Pin it to your profile so it stays visible.
Ask followers who were contacted to send you screenshots instead of replying. Those screenshots show exactly which accounts are running the scam, and they strengthen every report against them.
When a follower has already paid
Sometimes a follower tells you they already sent money or details. Thank them for telling you, keep their screenshots and the payment details they share, and make sure the account they dealt with is reported straight away. If money was sent, contact the bank straight away to ask for the transfer to be stopped or recalled. We take it on: report it to us and we act immediately.
What to expect
Once the scam accounts are removed, their messages and comments go with them, and your followers stop seeing them. New lookalikes often appear when the first ones go, especially if the scam was working. Staying on it is what keeps your audience safe over time.
What you can do right now
- 01
Post a pinned warning
Tell your followers which accounts are yours and that you never ask for money, codes or payments in private messages.
- 02
Collect screenshots from your followers
Ask anyone who was contacted to send you the message and the account name instead of replying to it.
- 03
Save every account link
Copy the full address of each scam profile and take screenshots with the date, before you block them.
- 04
Report the accounts as impersonation
Use the platform's own report button on each profile and choose the option for an account pretending to be you.
- 05
Don't reply to the scammers
Don't message, pay or negotiate with them, and ask your followers not to either.
- 06
Secure your real accounts
Turn on two-step sign-in and use a password manager, so the scammers can't take over the account your followers trust.
How Praivon helps
- We search for accounts and comments that use your name, your photos or variations of your usernames to reach your audience.
- We report every scam account as impersonation and stay on it until it is resolved.
- Lookalike profiles that appear after the first removals are reported the same way.
- We search the major platforms plus thousands of websites across the open web, including pages that sell fake offers in your name.
- Every request is sent on your behalf, under the authorization you give us.
Straight answers.
Can I report an account that scams my followers if it isn't using my exact name?
Yes. An account that uses your photos or a lookalike username to pass as you is impersonation, even with a slightly different name. Report the profile itself, with the messages your followers received.
Should I post publicly about the scam?
Yes, calmly. A pinned post or story naming your real accounts and saying you never ask for money in private messages protects your followers while the accounts are reported and taken down.
A follower lost money to the scam. What now?
This is not your fault: the scammer used your name without your permission. What helps most now is reporting the account quickly and warning the rest of your audience. If money was sent, contact the bank straight away to ask for the transfer to be stopped or recalled. We take it on: report it to us and we act immediately.
How long does it take to remove scam accounts?
On major platforms, removal requests are typically resolved within 48–72 hours. Complex cases and less responsive websites can take longer, and we stay on every request until it is resolved.
Why do new scam accounts keep appearing?
When a scam works, the people behind it open new lookalike accounts as soon as the old ones are removed. That is why the search continues after the first removals.