All social media sites, as well as YouTube provide clear paths for reporting impersonated accounts/accounts set up in your name.
The quicker you do this, the quicker the process to have the accounts taken down or deleted can begin.
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.
If if someone is pretending to be you in a way that is causing you harm, for example, making sexually explicit or controversial posts that could damage your job or relationships, they can offer information and advice.
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.
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.
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.
Lara talks about a guy pretending to be her boyfriend on his Social Media and sharing details about ‘dates’ they had been on. She talks about the fact that people believe what they see online without questioning it.
Eve talks about her boyfriend logging into her social media account and sending messages which led to issues for her.
Ellie talks about having a Tinder profile set up in her name and what she did about it.
Jack talks about finding out someone was impersonating him on Grindr and getting the account taken down.
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