Today I Discovered Multiple Instagram Accounts Using My Name and Photo — I Took Them Down Immediately

Disclosure: Some links, like Social Catfish and Spokeo, are tools I’ve personally used and found helpful. If you use them, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. My recommendations are based on genuine experience.

A Shocking Discovery in Willowbrook

I’m Everleigh Harper, a 29-year-old nurse living in Willowbrook, USA, a small town where everyone knows your name and your coffee order. My days are spent tending to patients at Willowbrook General Hospital, where I pour my heart into helping others. But in July 2024, my world turned upside down when my best friend, Sophie Bennett, called me in a panic. “Everleigh, someone on Instagram claiming to be you messaged me asking for $500 for an emergency,” she said. Sophie, who’s known me since we were kids trading snacks at recess, immediately knew it wasn’t me. Someone had created a fake Instagram account using my name and was scamming my friends for money.

I was mortified. My name, my face, my identity—stolen to trick the people I care about. I texted all my friends, warning them: “Someone’s made a fake account with my name. Don’t send any money!” I reported the account to Instagram, and after a few weeks, it was deleted. But a nagging fear lingered: how many other fake accounts were out there, using my identity on Instagram, Facebook, or elsewhere? As a nurse, I’m used to solving problems under pressure, so I set out to uncover the truth and protect my reputation.

Links to Social Catfish in this story are based on my personal use. If you try them, I may gain a small benefit at no cost to you, helping me share stories like this.

The Search for Fake Accounts

Determined to find out how many accounts were impersonating me, I turned to Google and searched “how to find fake Instagram and Facebook accounts with my name.” Two websites stood out: Social Catfish, known for its reverse image search, and Spokeo, popular for reverse phone number lookups. I’d heard about Social Catfish from a colleague who used it to verify a suspicious profile, and Spokeo’s affordability caught my eye. I decided to start with Social Catfish to track down accounts using my photo.

Visiting Social Catfish’s official website, I selected their reverse image search, uploaded a clear selfie I use on my real Instagram, and paid $5 via PayPal. My heart raced as I waited, hoping I’d find answers. Within minutes, the report revealed a shocking truth: my photo was used on five fake profiles—two on Instagram and three on Facebook. The accounts had my name, slightly tweaked (like “Everleigh.Harperr” or “EverleighH_123”), and were messaging my friends, asking for money with sob stories about hospital bills. Seeing my face tied to these scams made my stomach churn.

Social Catfish links reflect tools I’ve trusted. Using them may provide me a small benefit at no extra cost to you, supporting my storytelling.

Taking Action to Delete the Fakes

Armed with Social Catfish’s report, I took screenshots of each fake profile, noting their usernames and posts. I contacted Instagram and Facebook support, following their reporting process: I clicked the three dots on each profile, selected “Report,” and chose “Impersonation.” I explained that these accounts were using my identity to scam people, attaching the screenshots and a link to my real profile (@EverleighHarperRN). Within days, Instagram removed the two fake accounts, and Facebook deleted the three others after a week. Social Catfish’s detailed report made it easy to pinpoint and eliminate the imposters.

Spokeo and Social Catfish links are based on my experience. I may receive a small benefit if you use them, at no cost to you, helping me continue this journey.

Double-Checking with Spokeo

To ensure no other accounts lingered, I turned to Spokeo, which offers a reverse phone number lookup for just 95 cents with a seven-day trial. Since I’d already deleted the fake accounts, I wanted to confirm my data was clear. I entered my phone number on Spokeo’s official website, and the report came back clean—no social media profiles or suspicious activity tied to my number. This gave me peace of mind, knowing my identity was secure again. Spokeo’s affordability and ease of use were a perfect follow-up to Social Catfish’s image-based search.

Links to Spokeo are tools I’ve used and recommend. If you explore them, I may gain a small benefit at no cost to you, supporting my efforts to share helpful stories.

How to Spot and Stop Fake Accounts

My experience taught me how to identify and handle fake social media accounts. Here’s what I learned:

Check Profile Details: Fake accounts often have sparse bios, low-quality photos, or usernames with extra numbers/letters (e.g., EverleighH_123). My fake accounts had minimal posts and no mutual friends.

Use Reverse Image Search: Social Catfish’s $5 search found five fake profiles by analyzing my photo across platforms, far more effective than free tools like Google Images, which missed them.

Verify with Phone Lookups: Spokeo’s 95-cent lookup confirmed my data was clear after deleting the fakes, ensuring no lingering profiles.

Report Quickly: Use the “Report” option on Instagram (three dots > Report > Impersonation) or Facebook (three dots > Report Profile > Pretending to Be Someone). Provide screenshots and your real profile link.

Warn Your Circle: I told Sophie and other friends to ignore suspicious messages, preventing scams. Fake accounts often target your followers, so spread the word.

Why Social Catfish and Spokeo Shine

Social Catfish’s reverse image search was a lifesaver, uncovering multiple fake accounts with my photo for just $5, compared to pricier options like Lenso.ai ($15.99/month). Its AI-driven search digs into public records and social media, finding what free tools like Google Images or TinEye miss. Spokeo’s 95-cent phone lookup added an extra layer of security, ensuring no profiles lingered. Both tools are discreet—neither notified the fake account creators, preserving my privacy.

Moving Forward in Willowbrook

With the fake accounts gone, I’m back to focusing on my patients and my blog, “Everleigh’s Care Corner,” where I share nursing tips and personal stories. Sophie and I still laugh about the scammer who thought they could fool her—she’s too sharp for that! If you suspect someone’s using your name or photo on social media, don’t wait. Use Social Catfish to find fake accounts and Spokeo to double-check your data. They’re affordable, reliable, and keep your search private, so you can reclaim your identity with confidence. Here’s to protecting our names and keeping Willowbrook’s spirit strong.

Links to Social Catfish and Spokeo are based on my positive experiences. I may receive a small benefit if you use them, at no cost to you, helping me inspire others with stories of resilience.