All social media sites, as well as YouTube, provide clear paths for reporting impersonated accounts/accounts set up in your name.
Check out the icons below for more information on how to do this on the different platforms
If you need help, advice or support with any kind of online issue, Netsafe can help.
They are a non-profit organisation with a helpline set up to help people with online safety and online issues.
Netsafe have years of experience in helping young people deal with harm online, their service is free and confidential.
Find out more by visiting their website or checking out the services section.
Think about making a public post letting people in your life know that someone is pretending to be you.
This gives them a heads up not to accept friend requests or to be wary of communication or posts that seem a bit out of the ordinary.
They can also report accounts or posts directly to the platform or let you know about any communication they have had that you can then report.
You might also let them know that you will not be posting until the accounts have been taken down to avoid any confusion. Keep in contact using text messages or other more private forms of communication.
It could be a good idea to take a break from Social Media to give you some space from the confusion and drama.
Spend time in person with people you care about doing things you enjoy.
How much personal information do you have publicly available?
The more there is out there, the easier it is for people to impersonate you and for that to move into the potential for identity theft or fraud.
Changing your settings so that your photos and private information is only able to be seen by friends can give you some protection (but not always).
Check the TAKING CHARGE section for how to do this.
If you receive emails or phone calls asking for your private information, be really wary. This is very unusual. Let them know that you will phone them directly to confirm what is going on (or visit in person if it is somewhere you can, the IRD for example) and use their main phone number.
Someone pretending to be you or using your private information is not against the law in NZ unless they do so for financial gain, it then becomes fraud.
Fraud is when they might open accounts or purchase things in your name. It is a good idea to keep an eye on your bank statements to check if there are any transactions that you did not make.
Also be aware that if you get a bill in the mail for something you did not order, it could be worth following this up to put a stop to it (rather than ignoring it thinking it is a mistake).
For more information about identity theft, check out the resources available through CERT NZ and the Department of Internal Affairs.
For more information about legal steps, check out ‘The Law’ section below.
It’s not actually against the law
With the exception of the specific offence of impersonating a police officer, it is not against the law to impersonate someone, but actions someone impersonating you then takes could be against the law.
Impersonation is becoming more of an issue, especially on Social Media. Most sites have anti-impersonation policies and will remove fake pages/profiles if you fill in their forms.
Identity Theft
Identity theft is when someone uses another person’s identity, such as their name, bank account details or credit card number, to commit fraud or other crimes.
For more information, click HERE to check out the Department of Internal Affair’s information about Identity theft (they also have some great checklists if this has happened to you).
If this has happened to you, you can report it to the police or get support from Netsafe.
ID care can also provide support and is is Australia and New Zealand’s national identity & cyber support service.
Defamation
In a nutshell, Defamation is when someone publishes something about someone which damages that person’s reputation.
If someone is impersonating you then false information and statements are automatically made.
If some of those statements are defamatory – i.e. an ordinary person would think less of you, then a claim of defamation could be made.
Netsafe have years of experience in helping young people deal with harm online and their service is free and confidential.
If someone is impersonating or pretending to be you online, they can offer you help and support.
How can they help?
Netsafe is an organisation that can provide information and support as well as free and confidential advice when you are worried or hurt online.
They can:
How to contact them?
You can make a report through their website https://www.netsafe.org.nz/report/
or you can free phone them seven days a week between 8am and 5pm on 0508 NETSAFE.
You can make the report yourself, or someone can do it on your behalf.
Helplines are there to help if you want to talk (kōrero) with someone about what is going on and how it is making you feel. You can openly and honestly share your feelings without worrying about being judged.
It’s normal to worry about asking for help – but at Youthline we are here to listen and help you figure out what is right for you.
0800 376 633 24/7 support
free text 234 between 8am and midnight
or email talk@youthline.co.nz
Online Chat
Youthline’s online chat service is open between 7pm-11pm
A safe place for you to talk about anything at all.
0800 942 8787 (for 5–18 year olds). Phone counselling is available Monday to Friday, midday–11pm and weekends, 3pm–11pm.
Online chat is available 7pm–10pm daily Click HERE
They do say “Because a lot of young people use online chat, there is often a wait time before a counsellor is available. So if you need to speak to someone straight away, phone What’s Up and speak to a counsellor in person”
At Kidsline we think everyone needs to be heard, and we want to be here to talk things through with you, and listen to what’s happening to you. So give us a call, and talk to one of our Buddies!
0800 54 37 54 (0800 kidsline) for young people up to 18 years of age.
Kidsline is available 24/7 however if you ring between 4pm-9pm Monday – Friday you will speak to a Kidsline Buddy – a specially trained teenage telephone counsellor.
To get the lowdown on Helplines and what happens when you call, whether you are really anonymous and and heaps more info, check out the Sticks ‘n Stones website.
Bonnie talks about a rumour spread by a jealous ex that she was in a gang bang and how this was accepted as the truth. The hate and abuse that followed made her feel alone and worthless until she had an opportunity for a fresh start.
Tim talks about being bullied and that he should kill himself to deal with his problems and how he got support to get through.
Eve shares her story about feeling bullied online and a threat made about her and what she did to get through the situation.
Kate talks about when a ‘friend’ pretended to be a boy messaging her and how things got worse from there.
Kate talks about a friendship breaking down and then finding out she was being talked about in FB groups she wasn’t part of.
Sonia talks about a hate page that was set up at her school about someone else and how she stepped in to help.
Jen talks about being bullied online and getting a message ‘out of the blue’ to kill herself.
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