Understanding and Combating Fake Profile Creation on Social Media

What is Fake Profile Creation?

Fake profile creation occurs when cyber fraudsters create a social media profile using the identity details like name, address, email ID, photograph, etc., of a victim without their knowledge. The fraudsters create these profiles with the intent of causing harm. They use fake profiles to spread false information, damage the victim's reputation, and send friend requests to the victim's contacts to gain financial benefit.

Why Should We Be Concerned?

A fake social media profile can severely damage your public reputation. Any communication made by the fraudster to the friends and family of the real account holder through this fake account can make them vulnerable to cyber attacks like phishing and financial scams. These friends and family members can be tricked into providing their information or even money to the fraudster.

Dangers of Fake Social Media Profiles

Fraudsters can commit various offenses using fake profiles, such as:

• Spreading fake and false information
• Damaging the victim’s reputation
• Sending false friend requests
• Luring children and teenagers with fake identities
• Making friends and family vulnerable to cyber-attacks like phishing, fake links, and malware attacks
• Committing financial fraud by requesting money using messaging services

Modus Operandi

Fraudsters create fake profiles using available or collected identity-related information through:

• Social engineering tactics
• Phishing
• Using recent photographs, events, and other details of victims

Once the fake profile is created, they can:

• Send friend requests to trap the victim
• Post false messages to damage the victim’s reputation
• Request money or gifts, show false romantic interests, or try to sell fake goods/items

How Do We Safeguard Ourselves?

• Avoid sharing personal information like your address, mobile number, email ID, and other sensitive identity details on social media. Restrict access to this information.
• Do not share high-resolution personal pictures publicly on social media.
• Share group pictures instead of individual images and post limited information on social media platforms.
• Never send money to requests sent through social media accounts.
• Never accept friend requests from unknown persons without proper verification.
• Never click on suspicious links or download anything without verifying the source.
• Use different passwords for different social media accounts and emails.
• Be alert for any unusual queries about your online actions.
• Enable two-factor or multi-factor authentication on your social media accounts.
• Report any fake profile on the social media platform and on the cybercrime portal cybercrime.gov.in.

How to Report Fake Profiles

Facebook:

• To report a fake account, visit Facebook Help.

Twitter:

• To report a fake account, visit Twitter Help.

Instagram:

1. Go to the fake account on Instagram.
2. Click on the three dots on the top right-hand side of the profile page.
3. Select ‘Report’.
4. Choose ‘It’s pretending to be someone else’.
5. Select who the account is pretending to be (you, someone you know, or a celebrity).
6. Submit the report.

• For more information, visit Instagram Help.

Legal Provisions Against Fake Profiles

Under the Information Technology Act, 2000 (amended in 2008):

Section 66C: Punishable with imprisonment up to three years and a fine up to one lakh rupees for identity theft using unique identification features.

Section 66: Punishable with imprisonment up to three years or a fine up to five lakh rupees for using fake profiles to spread spam or commit data theft.

Section 66D: Punishable for personation by means of fake profiles, similar to Section 66C.

Section 67: Punishable for posting obscene content, with imprisonment up to three years and a fine up to five lakh rupees for a first conviction and up to five years and ten lakh rupees for subsequent convictions.

Section 67A: Punishable for sexually explicit content with imprisonment up to five years and a fine up to ten lakh rupees for a first conviction and up to seven years for subsequent convictions.

Section 67B: Punishable for child pornography, with severe penalties for enticing or luring children into sexually explicit activities online.

Under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012:

Section 13: Defines child pornography and outlines the use of children for sexually gratifying purposes.

Section 14: States the punishment for offenses under Section 13.