Many businesses face the growing problem of brand impersonation on social media platforms. Fake accounts not only damage brand reputation but may also lead to customer loss. For cross-border e-commerce companies using LinkedIn and Twitter as key marketing channels, combating these fraudulent accounts has become an essential skill.
Reporting Fake Company Pages on LinkedIn
Unlike Instagram and Facebook, LinkedIn doesn't offer specific tools for reporting impersonators. However, users can still flag fake company pages and intellectual property violations through LinkedIn's reporting options.
1. Reporting a Fake LinkedIn Company Page
- Locate the "More" button next to the organization's call-to-action button on the fake company page
- Select "Report abuse" from the dropdown menu
- Choose "Suspicious, spam, or fake" as the reason
- Select "Fraud or scam" and click "Submit"
- Provide additional details if prompted by LinkedIn
2. Submitting an Intellectual Property Infringement Notice
If the fake page uses your intellectual property (trademarks, logos, or copyrighted content), you can file an infringement notice:
- Click "More" then "Report abuse" on the fake company page
- Select "Intellectual property infringement or defamation"
- Choose the most relevant option (copyright or trademark infringement)
- Complete LinkedIn's infringement notice form with all required details
3. Addressing False Information
For pages spreading false information about your business, LinkedIn allows defamation claims, though the platform notes it cannot act on most defamation reports. Legal action may be necessary in serious cases.
4. Reporting Without an Account
Non-LinkedIn users can access the platform's copyright and trademark infringement resources by providing contact information and necessary details.
Reporting Fake Accounts on Twitter
Twitter provides two main reporting options for impersonation and intellectual property violations. While reporting brand impersonation requires an account, trademark and copyright issues can be reported without one.
1. Reporting an Impersonator Account
- Open the fake account's profile
- Click the three dots in the profile's top-right corner
- Select "Report" then "Start report"
- Choose "Myself" when asked who the report is for
- Select "They're pretending to be me or someone else"
- Choose "Pretending to be me, my company, or brand"
- Confirm the impersonation and enter your company's official Twitter username
- Provide a company email address for follow-up
2. Using Twitter's Authenticity Portal
The Authenticity on Twitter portal allows reporting multiple impersonation cases simultaneously by providing company contact information and links to relevant tweets.
3. Reporting Intellectual Property Violations
For trademark or copyright violations:
- Select the appropriate issue type from Twitter Help Center's dropdown menu
- Specify whether you're the rights holder or representing them
- Provide detailed information about the violation
- Include trademark registration numbers or original content links where applicable
Post-Reporting Considerations
- Preserve all evidence including screenshots and links to infringing content
- Monitor the platforms' response and provide additional information if needed
- Consider legal action if the fake accounts cause significant brand damage
Preventive Measures
Proactive brand protection strategies can reduce impersonation risks:
- Register all relevant social media accounts for your brand name
- Regularly monitor platforms for fake accounts using brand-related keywords
- Train employees to recognize and report impersonation attempts