Online impersonation: check the channel, not the displayed name

Appearance is not proof of control

Fraudsters can create accounts using names and images belonging to real people. They may also send messages from addresses that differ by only one character.

Public information about a colleague or relative can make the conversation credible. A request should not be trusted solely because it refers to real events.

Accurate personal details can be misused

For an unusual payment or access request, contact the person through an established method outside the suspicious interaction.

Review excessive public exposure and account permissions, especially where a compromised profile could influence business contacts.

Practical checks

• Confirm high-risk instructions independently
• Protect accounts with multifactor authentication
• Report impersonation profiles to platforms
• Preserve relevant addresses and dates

Limit the impact of copied identities

Where your identity is being copied, record the profile address and use the platform’s reporting procedure. Warn likely recipients through reliable channels.

Experience with online identity and research since 1999 informs Alain Stevens’s emphasis on verified channels rather than superficial identity signals.

Related resources

Build a suitable control

A copied online profile cannot by itself identify the person operating it.

For a technical question, software project or training request, describe the need without sending credentials or unnecessary personal data.