Someone Impersonating Your Business on Social Media

A growing threat to businesses

Social media impersonation is one of the fastest-growing threats to UK businesses. Creating a fake account takes minutes, requires no verification, and can cause significant damage before the platform takes action. Scammers use fake business accounts to steal customers, collect payments for services they never deliver, or damage your reputation.

If someone has created a social media account impersonating your business, you need to act quickly.

How to spot impersonation

Common signs that someone is impersonating your business on social media:

• •An account using your business name (or a very similar name) that you did not create
• •They are using your logo, photos, or branding
• •They are posting content that mimics your style or copies your posts directly
• •Customers are contacting you about interactions with an account you do not recognise
• •The fake account is offering your services, often at suspiciously low prices

Reporting on each platform

Facebook and Instagram (Meta). Both platforms have dedicated impersonation reporting forms. Go to the fake profile or page, click the three dots menu, and select "Report." Choose "Pretending to be someone" or "Intellectual property violation." If you have a registered trademark, use Meta's IP reporting form for faster action. Meta typically responds within 48 hours for clear-cut impersonation cases.

X (formerly Twitter). Use the impersonation reporting form in the Help Centre. You will need to provide your account details, the impersonating account's handle, and evidence that you are the legitimate business. X's response times vary, but verified business accounts receive priority handling.

LinkedIn. Report the fake company page through LinkedIn's "Report this page" option. Select "This page is fraudulent or a scam." LinkedIn generally acts within a few business days for impersonation reports.

TikTok. Use the in-app reporting feature or TikTok's IP infringement report form. Select "Impersonation" as the reason. TikTok has improved its response times significantly, typically acting within 24 to 72 hours.

Google Business Profile. If someone has created a fake Google Business listing using your name, use the "Suggest an edit" feature to flag it, or report it through Google's Business Redressal Form.

Strengthening your reports

Platforms receive millions of reports daily. To make yours stand out:

• •Include your trademark registration number if you have one. This accelerates the review process significantly.
• •Provide clear evidence showing you are the legitimate business (your website, Companies House listing, trading history).
• •Document the fake account thoroughly with screenshots before reporting, in case they delete the account and create a new one.
• •Report from your verified business account where possible.

Beyond reporting

If the impersonation involves fraud (collecting money from customers, for example), report it to Action Fraud (the UK's national fraud reporting centre) as well as the social media platform. Keep all evidence, as this could support a criminal investigation.

For persistent impersonation, a cease and desist letter sent to the individual (if you can identify them) or a formal complaint to the platform's legal department may be necessary.

Prevention

The best defence is to claim your business name on all major platforms early, even if you do not plan to use them all immediately. Verify your accounts where possible, as verified accounts receive priority protection and are harder to impersonate convincingly.

Run a free brand scan at GuardMyBusiness to check where your business name appears online, including social media platforms, websites, and directories.