As you take to social media, you might encounter an array of imposter accounts. Fake accounts and bot accounts commonly use photos and posts from authentic profiles and will engage with others using the same name. Accounts like these pose serious threats, leading to online scamming, loss of personal information, and even identity theft. Understanding the gravity of this situation is vital to helping you protect yourself and your business.

What Makes an Account Fake?

Fake accounts across social media platforms represent profiles that may or may not be linked to a real person, They are often created from stolen information from real accounts. Typically, these accounts are set up to make people believe their friend or favorite business has simply created another account. It is vital to know the signs that you are dealing with a fake account BEFORE interacting.

The Dangers of Fake Accounts

There are many dangers that fake accounts can cause. You should remember the risks of interacting with an account on Facebook, whether you’re on a personal account or using your business account.

• Spreading false or manipulative claims, damaging someone else’s reputation
• Engaging in cyberbullying or harassment of others
• Conducting fraudulent activities, like phishing scams or giveaway scams
• Distorting your online presence by manipulating likes, shares, and comments

How Can I Spot a Fake Account?

There are telltale signs that you are dealing with a fake account. This is true whether there is a person behind the account or not. Here are just some of these signs.

• The use of certain profile pictures or stolen stock images.
• Inconsistent or sparse posting history, including hidden posts.
• Having very few photos or only one profile image.
• A lack of realistic interaction with others, including messaging setups, posts, etc.
• Names that don’t match across platforms or that have random characters and numbers.
• Having a huge amount or only a few friends.

What Are Automated Bots?

Bot accounts represent those that are constantly sharing, commenting, and posting about relevant topics to keep interaction high for accounts. This is often shown in political, celebrity, or influencer accounts with higher numbers of followers. Bot accounts are set up to word messages, comments, and posts without language barriers, replicate human behaviors, follow other accounts, and send out friend requests.

How Can I Spot an Automated Bot?

Bots can be easier to spot than fake accounts because there is no human behind the screen. To spot a bot, look out for these signals.

• Abnormally high activity, including multiple comments or messages at the same time
• Content posted is mainly links to spam websites or empty posts
• The interaction appears scripted or repetitive, including spam comments
• Uniform responses that seem out of context in threaded conversations
• The comments on posts in a single Facebook group are all the same, even when they don’t make sense

Protecting your business on Facebook

Your reputation online is an important part of conducting your business successfully. Bots and fake accounts are scammers that are only out to harm your followers and you.

How scammers affect your followers

When fake accounts and bots start interacting with your fans, they can cause harm in the form of private messaging, phishing scams, and much more. Once they have gained access to your followers, they can use them to spread fake information and harm their online presence.

How scammers affect your business

There are many ways that scammers and bots affect businesses on Facebook. Some are easier to catch than others.

• Scammers can target businesses directly by setting up fake accounts that mimic the brand’s official account. They can then use this account to engage with customers and spread false information, damaging the brand’s reputation.
• Additionally, scammers can also use fake accounts and bots to manipulate engagement numbers on posts, making it difficult for businesses to accurately gauge their online reach and success.
• Fake accounts and bots often send threatening messages to businesses about shutting down their account, scaring media managers and company owners to click on phishing links. They also pose as businesses during giveaways to gather personal information from their followers.

Handling fake accounts and bots

If you do not have a social media manager or team to handle your social accounts, it can seem daunting to take care of all the messages, posts, and other issues caused by bots and fake accounts. But, once you know what to look for, you can take steps to prevent any dangers. These include the following.

• Monitor your account regularly for suspicious activity and posts.
• Have a verification process in place for any new friend requests or messages from unknown accounts.
• Report and block any fake accounts or bots that you come across.
• Educate your followers about the dangers of fake accounts and bots, and encourage them to report any suspicious activity they encounter.
• Make posts alerting your fans to fake accounts and bots during giveaways.
• Report all spam and scam messages you get.

With these tips in mind, the next time you come across an account that doesn’t look right, think twice about if it is legitimate. Stay vigilant, report any suspicious activity to Facebook, and limit your interactions with these fake accounts.

Andrews & Associates offers outstanding IT Services to help businesses optimize their IT infrastructure. Our team of experienced professionals can evaluate your current structure and provide solutions to meet your needs. We also provide comprehensive Digital Services, including social media management to help protect your business accounts. Give us a call at (806) 242-1088 or Email Us today!