What is impersonation?
This is when someone assumes the identity of another person, to harass or defraud them. It can also include behaviours such as creating fake accounts, or hijacking accounts usually with the intent of targeting an individual.
Example case studies
To put this into context, here are some example case studies of how this might play out in real-life scenarios.
Tom has been informed that images from his OnlyFans page have been seen on Grindr. Tom has confirmed that the profile is not his, though they have used the same name and personal details. Tom believes that someone is using his images to catfish other men on the Grindr app.
Gemma’s sexual content from her Fansley page has been stolen by an unknown person. Gemma has since found a second profile pretending to be her and selling her online content.
Jamie is experiencing online harassment from someone they know who has recently found out about their escort business. Fake social media profiles are being set up by this person to share Jamie's images and personal details which is putting Jamie in danger.
Is it against the law?
Creating an impersonation account alone is not a specific offence under UK law. However, depending on the content and other circumstances, it may be that it is contributing to a wider criminal behaviour such as harassment.
What to do if you're being impersonated online
Take screenshots of the impersonation profiles which have been created. Try and include the URL (website address) of the profile, times and dates of when posts were made, and any details of the page.
Sometimes if this has been going on for an extended period of time or if there are other concerning behaviours like harassment, it may be a good idea to create a timeline of events in as much detail as possible.
We understand that the first reaction you may have is to want to delete all the content immediately. This is your choice, but we do advise that if you want to seek legal action it may be best to contact the police first before reporting the content and risk having evidence removed prematurely.
If the fake profile is on a social media platform, you can find advice on how to report this via Report Harmful Content here. If you have already reported the content and they have replied to say no action will be taken, Report Harmful Content may be able to provide further support, you can submit a form here to contact the service.
If the impersonation is occurring on an adult site or a platform that Report Harmful Content does not cover, you can report the issue directly to the website or platform.
Find more advice on reporting content to sites and platforms here.
We understand how distressing online crimes can be and encourage all victims to reach out and get extra support if they need it. You’re not alone and help is out there.