How long does Facebook take to remove a fake profile?

It varies from hours to days. Impersonation reports from the person being impersonated tend to be handled faster than general reports, so report as “Me” when it’s you.

Can I find out who made the fake account?

Facebook won’t tell you. What you can find is every other place your photos are being used, which is what you need to get them all taken down.

Is it safe to search my own face?

Yes. Only a crop around the face is sent, and it’s deleted with your results after 48 hours. Your first preview is free and shows how many matches there are.

How to report a fake Facebook profile using your photos

Open the fake profile, tap the three dots, choose to report it, and pick “Pretending to be someone”, then say whether it’s you, a friend or a public figure. Impersonation reports get priority, so use that reason rather than spam if your photos are involved.

Updated October 15, 2026 · 2 min read

How to report a fake Facebook profile

Go to the fake profile in the Facebook app or on facebook.com.
Tap the three dots (…) under the cover photo.
Choose Report profile (on some versions, Find support or report).
Pick “Pretending to be someone” or “Fake profile”.
Say who it’s pretending to be: me, someone I know, or a celebrity or business.
Submit, then block the profile so it can’t contact you.

You’ll get an update in your Support Inbox. If the first report is rejected, report again with the impersonation reason and ask friends who know you to report it too.

If you don’t have a Facebook account

Facebook’s Help Center has a form for reporting an account that’s impersonating you, which works without logging in. You’ll be asked for a link to the fake profile and a photo of an ID so they can confirm it’s really you.

How to report a fake Instagram account impersonating you

Open the fake account, tap the three dots at the top right.
Tap Report, then Report account.
Choose “It’s pretending to be someone else”, then “Me” or “Someone I know”.
If you don’t use Instagram, the Instagram Help Center has an impersonation form for non-users.

Find the other copies

Fake accounts are often made in batches, with the same photos on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and dating sites. Reporting one leaves the rest running.

Search your own face to see where it appears on public pages, then report each copy on its own platform. Keep a list with links and dates: it helps if you need to escalate.

What else to do

Post a short note on your real profile saying there’s a fake account, so friends don’t accept it.
Tighten who can see your photos and friend list; impersonators copy both.
If the fake account is asking your contacts for money, tell them directly.
If it’s being used to harass or threaten you, keep screenshots and report it to the police.
Our privacy page explains how to get your face removed from search results at the source.