Facebook Cloning

This is Vanessa Collins, your Certified Digital Marketing Specialist with your Weekly Tech Tip. If you are like me, you have received a ton of Facebook Messages telling you that someone receives a 2nd friend request from you. The message says something like, “Hi….I actually got another friend request from you which I ignored so you may want to check your account. Hold your finger on the message until the forward button appears…”
Unfortunately, Facebook and Instagram profile cloning are very popular. It’s popular because it is very easy to do, and it DOES NOT require your password. Your account has NOT hacked. Someone just downloaded your profile picture and started a new account with your name. They then will send a friend request to your current friends with the hopes of engaging them in a message where they will, at some point, ask for under as you.
There is an easy way to see if your account has been cloned. Go to the search bar and search for your name. If someone with your name AND your profile picture comes up, they are trying to impersonate you. If that happens, you can go to the profile, which normally will only have your profile picture (cloners are usually too lazy to copy the cover image) and report the profile by clicking the 3 little buttons to the right of the message button. If you get a 2nd request from someone you know you are already friends with, report it.
But please, do not forward these chain messages, especially if you didn’t receive a 2nd request from someone. If you do, you are spamming people and you jeopardize your account being put in Facebook jail. Be safe out there in those internet streets.