South Africans Warned: Social Media Cloned Profiles Becoming a Growing Threat

If you’ve ever come across a Facebook or Instagram profile that looks eerily like yours, you’re not alone. South Africans are increasingly falling victim to cloned social media accounts, and experts say the companies behind these platforms aren’t doing enough to stop it.

A Daily Struggle Against Digital Impersonation

Steven Powell, a director at ENSafrica, told CapeTalk that identity cloning has become so widespread that “every minute, someone’s identity is being cloned.” The real concern, he explained, is how difficult it is for victims to get help from Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram.

Reporting an imposter account is supposed to be straightforward. Victims must fill out a form, upload proof of identity, and flag the fraudulent account. Yet, many South Africans who go through the process find themselves stuck in a maze of unhelpful responses. Powell believes Meta’s guidance is far too complex and leaves victims confused about what to do next.

The Human Cost Behind Fake Profiles

CapeTalk also spoke with Pete Goffe-Wood, a well-known South African chef and judge on MasterChef SA. He described his own nightmare after his account was hacked two years ago.

Despite his efforts, Meta refused to take the fraudulent profile down because it wasn’t spreading hate speech, violence, or pornography. “As far as Meta was concerned, the new profile was not breaking any rules,” he said.

The result? Goffe-Wood lost years of followers, was forced to start a new profile from scratch, and found himself completely blocked by the imposter who had taken over his identity. “They were not powerless, but decided they would do nothing about it,” he explained.

Why Meta’s Response Falls Short

Meta insists it uses the same community standards for every case, but many victims have received automated replies dismissing their reports. The problem, Powell says, is that Meta seems to only act when a cloned account violates a specific rule, like racist posts. But impersonation itself, he argues, should be enough reason to remove an account.

This reactive approach has left South Africans frustrated. For ordinary users, being impersonated is not just inconvenientit can damage reputations, mislead friends and family, and even open doors to fraud.

A Call for Action

Powell is clear: Meta needs to simplify its reporting process, insist that victims are the ones reporting impersonation, and provide clear guidance to users. Until then, cloned profiles will remain a daily headache for South Africans navigating the digital world.

For now, the best advice is to stay vigilant. If a friend sends you a suspicious request, verify before accepting. And if your own account is cloned, document everythingbecause you may need more than one report to get results.

Source:MyBroadband 

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