How to Find Out Who Made a Fake Snapchat Account?

Snapchat has become as one of the most widely used social media sites, particularly among younger users, thanks to its distinctive features and transient content. Like any other internet site, it can be abused, though.

Fake accounts on Snapchat can cause serious concerns, from harassment to identity theft. If you suspect that someone has created a fake Snapchat account pretending to be you or someone you know, it’s natural to want to uncover who is behind it. 

Here is or comprehensive guide on how to find out who made a fake snapchat account.

Why Do People Create Fake Snapchat Accounts?

For the following reasons, people make fictitious accounts on Snapchat:

• Harassment or Bullying: Some individuals create artificial accounts to harass or bully others while hiding their true identity. This can include sending threatening messages, sharing embarrassing photos, or spreading rumors.
• Impersonation: The creation of copycat accounts is frequently done maliciously to deceive someone’s friends and family or harm someone’s reputation.
• Scams: Scammers frequently use fake accounts to trick people into giving up personal information, money, or other valuable resources. They may pose as a legitimate business, a charity, or even a potential romantic partner.
• Spying: Some people create fake accounts to spy on others, particularly in personal relationships. They may use the account to follow someone’s activities without being detected.
• Marketing or Promotion: In some cases, fake accounts are used to artificially inflate the follower count of a brand or individual, or to promote products and services in a deceptive manner.

How to Find Out Who Made a Fake Snapchat Account?

Snapchat does not readily provide account holder information because they take user privacy seriously.

If you’re determined to uncover the identity of the person behind a phoney account, there are various actions you can do.

Check for Clues in the Account’s Activity

Sometimes, the behavior of the fake account can give you clues about the identity of its creator. Look at the following:

Study the profile information: Look for any hints that could lead you to the account’s owner. Their username, profile picture, and any other content they have added to their account could be included.

In order to determine whether this person is connected to any other accounts or social media profiles, you should also conduct an internet search for this information.

Friends and Followers: Who is the fake account following? Are there any mutual connections that could give you a hint? Sometimes, a fake account might accidentally follow or interact with people the creator knows personally.

Content and Language: Analyse the content posted by the fake account. Does the language, style, or type of content seem familiar? Sometimes, the way someone writes or the kind of content they share can give away their identity.

Time of Activity: Notice when the account is most active. If it posts or messages at specific times, it might align with the schedule of someone you know.

Use Snapchat’s Reporting Tools

Users of Snapchat can report phoney accounts. Even though this might not identify the account’s owner directly, it might prompt Snapchat to take action against the phoney account—especially if it disobeys their community guidelines.

Reporting a fraudulent Snapchat account:

• Go to the Profile of the fake account.
• Tap the three dots in the upper-right corner.
• Select “Report” and follow the on-screen instructions.

While Snapchat won’t tell you who created the account, they might delete it if it violates their rules. This won’t identify the perpetrator but can stop the harassment or impersonation.

Legal Action: Subpoenaing Snapchat

If the situation is severe, and you believe that the fake account is causing significant harm, you might consider legal action. This is typically a last resort and can be a lengthy and expensive process. Here’s how it works:

File a Police Report: Start by reporting the situation to the police. If they believe a crime has been committed, they might be able to subpoena Snapchat for information about the account.

Get a Lawyer: Legal proceedings can be complex, so it’s essential to have a lawyer guide you through the process. They can help you file the necessary paperwork and understand your rights.

Subpoena Snapchat: If the judge grants the request, they have the authority to send Snapchat a subpoena demanding that the company provide account information. This can contain the phone number, IP address, and email address that were used to register the account.

Identify the Creator: Once you have the IP address, it’s possible to trace it back to an internet service provider (ISP).

The ISP can then identify the individual who owns the IP address. However, this might only reveal the account creator’s internet connection, not necessarily the person themselves, especially if the creator used a public Wi-Fi or a VPN (Virtual Private Network).

Hire a Private Investigator

In certain instances, employing a private investigator (PI) may be an alternative.

PIs are equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary to identify the people hiding behind fictitious accounts, but doing so can be expensive. They may employ sophisticated methods such as:

• Social Engineering: PIs may use techniques to trick the account holder into revealing information.
• Digital Forensics: Analysing the account’s digital footprint, including any slip-ups the creator may have made, such as linking the fake account to their real email or phone number.

Monitor and Document Everything

If you’re dealing with a fake Snapchat account, it’s important to keep detailed records of everything:

Screenshots: Take pictures of the profile, posts, and messages. This could be important proof in the event that you want to file a lawsuit.

Dates and Times: Note when you first noticed the account, when it started interacting with you, and any other significant events.

Witnesses: If others are aware of the fake account, ask them to document their interactions or observations. This can help build a case if needed.

What to Do If You Can’t Find Out Who Made the Fake Account?

Sometimes, even with the greatest of intentions, you might not be able to identify the person behind the phoney Snapchat account. Here are some actions you can do to safeguard yourself in such situations:

Increase Your Privacy Settings

Snapchat allows you to adjust your privacy settings to limit who can contact you and see your content. Consider the following settings:

Who Can Contact Me: Set this to “My Friends” to ensure that only people you’ve added can send you Snaps or messages.

Who Can View My Story: You can set this to “My Friends” or create a custom list of trusted friends.

Who Can See My Location: Use Ghost Mode to hide your location from everyone.

Educate Your Friends and Followers

Let your friends and followers know about the fake account and warn them not to interact with it. This can prevent them from falling victim to scams or harassment.

Public Announcement: If the fake account is impersonating you, consider making a public announcement on your real account to inform others of the situation.

Direct Messages: Reach out directly to people who might be interacting with the fake account to warn them.

Regularly Check for Fake Accounts

Unfortunately, fictitious accounts may nevertheless surface after being reported. Make sure to keep an eye out for any new phoney accounts that are utilising your name or images, and report them right away.

How to Prevent Fake Snapchat Accounts?

While it can be difficult to stop fake Snapchat accounts from being created in the first place, there are steps you can take to lessen the chance of being targeted:

Limit the Information You Share Online

Be cautious about the personal information you share on social media platforms. The more information you provide, the easier it is for someone to create a fake account in your name.

Personal Details: Avoid sharing your full name, address, phone number, and other sensitive information publicly.

Photos and Videos: Be mindful of the photos and videos you post, as they can be used to impersonate you.

Use a Strong, Unique Password

Using a strong, unique password for your Snapchat account can help prevent others from gaining unauthorised access to your account. This reduces the risk of someone using your account to create a fake one.

Password Tips: Use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Avoid using easily guessable information like your name or birthdate.

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Enable 2FA on your Snapchat account to add an extra layer of security.

Report Suspicious Activity Immediately

If you notice any suspicious activity on your Snapchat account, such as unfamiliar logins or strange messages, report it to Snapchat immediately. This can prevent your account from being compromised and used to create a fake one.

Regularly review your account’s security settings and log out of devices you no longer use.

What’s Next?

In the world of social media platforms, identifying who made a fake Snapchat account can be challenging but not impossible.

By examining elements like snap score, mutual friends, fake profile pictures, and bot usernames, you can gain valuable insights into whether an account is real or not. Social platforms, especially Snapchat, are home to both real people and deceptive online accounts.

Active users should stay vigilant and question suspicious profiles, particularly those lacking verified accounts or displaying irregular behavior. While a regular person might find it difficult to track down the creator of a fake account, tools like Fake Profile Remover can simplify the process. 

To protect your brand and ensure the security of your online presence, consider employing a monitoring service. Book a demo today to see how Bytescare Fake Profile Remover can help you detect and remove fake profiles, protect your brand, and maintain your reputation.

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