CASE FILE I · IDENTITY PROTECTION
Someone made a fake account of my child.
Finding a stranger using your child's name and photos is frightening. Act calmly and quickly - here is exactly what to do, in order.
Don't confront the account
Do not message or threaten the impersonator. It can escalate the situation, and it warns them to move the content elsewhere before it is removed. Document first, act second.
Capture evidence now
Screenshot the profile, the URL/handle, the bio, and any posts or messages - including the date and time. Platforms remove accounts, and your evidence disappears with them.
Report it as impersonation, specifically
Every major platform has a dedicated impersonation report - not the generic option. Choosing “impersonation” routes it to the right team. Report from your child's real account and ask trusted friends to report it too.
Tell the platform it involves a minor
Reports involving a child are prioritised. State clearly that the impersonated person is a minor and that you are the parent or guardian.
Warn your child's circle
Message close friends and family: this account is fake, please don't engage, and please report it. This limits the damage while the takedown is processed.
Talk to your child
Reassure them this is not their fault and that it is being handled. Keeping them calm and involved matters as much as the takedown itself.
Most impersonation accounts can be removed within hours to a few days once reported correctly. If it keeps happening, that is exactly the pattern a monitoring service is built to catch.
You don't have to handle this alone.
Talk to a guardian