How to Report a Fake Instagram Account with Ease? 

Every now and then we can bump into fake Instagram accounts on our comment section, DMs, or follower list and most of the we oversee them thinking “That’s alright!” However, in reality, it is not because fake Instagram accounts are more common than you might think, and they come with serious risks such as scams, impersonating some, and more. This can easily affect our overall Instagram experience quite badly. To prevent this, every Instagram user should know how to report a fake Instagram account. 

In today’s article, we are going to take a look at this issue and see what we can do to keep the environment safe, secure, and fun!  

Let’s see, shall we? 

Steps to Report a Fake Instagram Account 

If you want to report a fake Instagram account, you need to follow a simple yet effective process. In the following section, you can find an answer to your question, how to report a fake Instagram account? 

Use the App 

Reporting an account on the Instagram app is the most common and easiest way to do that. When you follow these steps, you can report an user. 

1. Go to the account that you think is fake. 

2. On the top right corner of your screen, you can find the three dots. Click on it. 

3. On the menu, select “Report”. 

4. Indicate why you are reporting that account and click on send. 

As you can see, reporting a fake Instagram account is that easy. In this way, you can contribute to the Instagram community and create a safer environment for everyone. 

Through the Instagram Help Center 

Another way to report an account is by using the Instagram Help Center. This feature is specifically designed to help users with any problem they have. However, in our case, you can use this feature if the fake account is impersonating you! 

1. Go to the Instagram Help Center. 

2. Click on “Report” and fill out the impersonation form with the required information such as your full name, email address, and, if requested, a government-issued ID. In this way, they can verify your identity. 

3. After you are done with it, click on submit and send it to Instagram. 

If you need to report an account that is impersonating you on Instagram but you don’t have an Instagram account, you can still use this method to report a fake Instagram account without experiencing any problems. 

Identifying Fake Instagram Accounts with Common Signs 

Identifying fake Instagram accounts can be quite tricky if you don’t know where to and what to look. In that case, don’t you worry because we’ve got you. Let’s see what you can do to protect yourself and others on the platform. 

• Unusual Follower-to-Following Ratios: Since fake Instagram accounts have no one to connect with, all of them follow the same strategy, follow for follow. This strategy results in an unusual follower-to-following ratio. While they are following thousands of Instagram users, they only have a handful of followers. This is a huge red flag. 

• Low-Quality or Stock Profile Images: If you find an account with extremely low-quality, blurry profile pictures or stock images, it is safe to say that you find yourself a fake Instagram account. These accounts are using these kinds of photos to mask their identity so that they can achieve their goals without any worry. 

• Generic or Nonsensical Bios: With the rise of AI, you can easily create a bio for your profile. However, these bios are most of the time rubbish and tell no stories. You can see vague statements, unrelated emojis, or random characters. 

• Spammy Behaviors: One of the best ways to identify a fake Instagram account is by looking at their activities because they are full of spam. They send bizarre DMs, weird posts, and unrelated comments, and showcase ads on their profile. If you come across a profile like this, you can ask yourself how to report a fake Instagram account. 

Tools and Techniques for Verification 

Sometimes, you can’t understand people, right? They might check all the boxes only to turn out to be a real person. In those cases, you might want a verification before reporting anyone. Personally, I have two strategies to use when I need verification before I report an account. The first one is reverse search, and the other one is reference check.   

For reverse image search, all you need to do is upload the profile picture of the account you suspected to reverse image tool. When you do that, the tool searches the internet and shows you whether the image is taken from another account or not.  

For cross-reference checks, you need to compare the account’s content, username, and activity with known authentic profiles if it is possible. So that, consistency shows you the truth.  

FAQs