Let’s start directly with the first clue:

The account has no profile picture

If a profile follows you or comments on one of your posts that does not have a profile picture, there is a high probability that it is fake. Of course, this does not apply to every Instagram user without a profile picture, but it is the first indication that it could be a fake account.

The profile has zero followers and no other subscribed accounts

A real Instagram user almost always has a few followers. If an account has no followers at all, then it is probably fake.

One account follows extremely many other accounts

Often fake accounts try to get many followers by following extremely many users. If the ratio between followers and subscribers does not match here, the profile is probably not genuine.

The account has no content

If you are followed by an account that has not posted anything, it is probably a bot, because the users who are actively following others have usually already posted their own posts.

One account is new

Fake accounts are usually quite young, which you can tell from the fact that their posts are only a few days or hours old. With the content they try to look real, but they are not. So, if an account seems suspicious to you, check the post data.

An account uses the images of other users

Often, fake accounts use the images of other influencers, often very well-known users. These are used either as a profile picture or as a feed post. If you are unsure whether the images are stolen, you can search backwards for the images on Google. If a picture appears on other sites, the account is not real.

Fake accounts leave spam comments

Another indication of a fake account is the strange comments they leave. These are often inappropriate, very simple and universal. Examples of comments from fake accounts can be things like: great post, nice, send dm or great work.

Many followers, but little engagement

An account that is followed by many users but gets hardly any likes or comments is often fake. Followers are often bought here to make the account look real.

There is a link in the bio asking you to click on it

Fake accounts are often used to get users to some, mostly pornographic, website. So pay attention to the bio of your new followers.

One account posts pictures of different people

Fake accounts never use their own images. They often use images from different users. Usually, these are photos of attractive women who all look similar, but are still not the same person. These types of accounts are usually fake as well.

eBakery – Expertise as a social media agency

All these tips and hints come from our daily work as a social media agency. If you would like services or advice specifically in this area, please feel free to contact us using the contact form.