Practical guide
Report a Suspected Fake Profile With Facts, Not a Hunt
Preserve the relevant account details and describe what happened. A useful report does not require exposing or investigating a person's identity.
Separate a concrete concern from a vague impression
An unfamiliar face or unusual writing style is not proof that a profile is fake. Focus on the behavior or contradiction that created concern. Perhaps an account claims to be your colleague while asking you to send a sign-in code, and your colleague confirms through an existing channel that the message was not theirs. That is a specific incident you can describe. Avoid turning appearance, accent or a new account date into a verdict about an unknown person's identity.
Preserve the minimum useful record
eSafety recommends keeping relevant account identifiers, contact dates and evidence when reporting unwanted contact. For a nonexplicit impersonation message, record the profile address, the account name shown and the request that caused concern. Preserve enough context to make the exchange understandable without collecting unrelated personal material. A screenshot containing the relevant text may help, but inspect it for your own private details before submitting it. Keep the record for the reporting purpose rather than circulating it as entertainment or public accusation.
Use the reporting category that fits what you know
Open the platform's own reporting controls and describe the observed behavior accurately. If you suspect impersonation, explain whose identity was claimed and how you know the claim is inconsistent. If you only know that the account sent an unwanted request, report that fact instead of embellishing it. A concise report is easier to understand when it distinguishes evidence from suspicion. You are asking the platform to review an account, not claiming to have completed an investigation that you did not perform.
Do not recruit yourself as an investigator
There is no need to bait the account into revealing more, publish suspected personal information or contact everyone connected to it. Those actions can expose unrelated people and keep an unwanted exchange going. After reporting, use the platform's appropriate contact controls and retain any acknowledgement it provides. A report receipt means the report was received, not that the account has been removed. The practical endpoint is a factual submission and a protected boundary, with the platform responsible for its own review and response.
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eSafety Commissioner: unwanted contact and reporting evidence ↗