Fake Accounts Using Children’s Photos Raise Risks for Families Online

Fake social media accounts are no longer limited to impersonating celebrities and public figures. Scammers are also using children’s names and photographs to create profiles that can deceive families.

A familiar name and image can make an account appear trustworthy, but neither proves who is behind it. For relatives encountering a profile that appears to belong to a child they know, that distinction is especially important.

Such impersonation could expose families to requests for personal information or money. Any unexpected message from an account using a child’s identity should be verified through a separate, trusted means of contact before the recipient responds.

Parents can reduce exposure by reviewing who can see their children’s photographs and personal details online. If they discover an impersonating account, they should report it to the platform and alert relatives so that a familiar face does not become a tool for deception.