Maybe a stranger messaged you saying "you are being used in a scam", or a victim contacted you thinking you were the person who deceived them. It is upsetting to learn that your face is being used to build trust and take money from others. This is common, it says nothing bad about you, and there are concrete steps you can take.
How stolen photos get used#
| Scam type | How your photos are used | What victims usually see |
|---|---|---|
| Romance scam | A fake dating or social profile with your pictures | Fast affection, excuses to avoid meeting or video calls, then requests for money |
| Fake seller or shop | Your photo as the "owner" or happy customer | Listings that take payment and never deliver |
| Fake influencer or celebrity-style account | Your images to look real and popular | Giveaways, investment or crypto tips, requests for deposits |
| Impersonating you to your contacts | A copy of your profile asking friends for money | "I'm in trouble, send a gift card" messages |
Step 1: Document everything#
- Screenshots of the profiles, listings and posts, with full URLs, usernames and dates.
- Any messages from victims or people who warned you. Ask them if they are willing to share screenshots of the scammer's messages.
- A list of every account, with the platform and link.
- Do not reply to the scammer, and do not try to "expose" them yourself in a way that could put you at risk.
Step 2: Report to each platform#
Use the report tool on each account and choose impersonation or scam. State that the account is using your photos without permission and that it is being used to defraud people. If you can, point to your real profile as comparison. For platform-specific tips see our guides on fake profiles using your photos and Instagram impersonation.
Dating apps and marketplaces usually have a trust and safety contact in addition to the in-app report button. Use both and keep references.
Step 3: Report the scam to the authorities#
Authorities mostly work on patterns across many reports, so each one helps even when no one is caught immediately. Mention that your photos are being misused.
- United States: report fraud to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is the central hub for cyber-enabled crime and accepts reports even when you are unsure whether they qualify. IC3 warns that scammers impersonate it and says it will never contact you directly for money or information.
- United Kingdom: Report Fraud, run by the City of London Police, replaced Action Fraud for England, Wales and Northern Ireland from late 2025. Report online at reportfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040. Scotland has its own route via Police Scotland (check their website).
- Elsewhere: look for your country's consumer protection or cybercrime reporting portal, or your local police.
Step 4: Warn your contacts and secure your accounts#
- Post a short notice
Tell friends and followers that a fake account is using your photos, and that you will never ask for money through a new profile. Share the real profile link.
- Tell people who were in touch
If you learn who was contacted, calmly tell them it was not you and encourage them to report.
- Check your own privacy settings
Consider limiting who can see or download your photos, and review tagged photos.
- Secure your logins
Use unique passwords and two-factor authentication, in case someone is also trying to take over your real accounts.
If a victim reaches out, be kind. They have often lost money and feel ashamed. According to the FTC's romance scam guidance, anyone who has paid should contact their bank or payment service immediately, ask for a refund, report to the FTC and tell the platform where they met the scammer.
Step 5: Look for other places your photos are used#
Scammers often reuse the same pictures across many profiles. A reverse image search can reveal some of them, and the FTC suggests this for checking suspicious profile photos. You can also use our tool to run a self-protection search of your own photos: you see how many matches were found before paying, and the full report unlocks with 1 credit (packs from $9.90 / €9.90). You upload your photo and email, your browser does a first analysis, a deeper server search takes a few minutes, and a summary arrives on screen and by email. The person pictured must give explicit consent (face images are biometric data). It is not meant to identify strangers, cannot see the whole internet, and cannot promise to find every copy. Never upload photos of minors.
Want to see where your own photos show up? Start a search to see how many matches exist.
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