How to Report Spam, Abuse or Fake Accounts in the Facebook App?

By App World Team | Published October 27, 2026 | Reading time: 7 minutes

Quick answer: To report spam, abuse or a fake account in the Facebook app, open the profile, post, comment, message, Page or group, tap the three dots (…), choose Report (or Find support or report), pick the reason that fits, and tap Submit. Then follow the outcome in Menu > Help & support > Support inbox.

In this guide

1. Report a fake or impersonation account
2. Report spam posts, comments and messages
3. Report abuse and harassment
4. Track your report in Support inbox
5. What to do if Facebook does not act
6. Protect yourself while you wait
7. FAQ

Fake profiles, spam links and harassment are among the most common problems people meet on Facebook. The good news is that the app has a built-in reporting flow that takes under two minutes, and the report is confidential. Menu names can shift slightly between app versions and regions, so if a label looks a little different on your phone, look for the three-dot icon or the words Report and Find support.

1. How to report a fake or impersonation account

Facebook's rules expect people to use the name they go by in everyday life, and impersonating another person, brand or public figure is not allowed. Typical signs of a fake account include a stolen profile photo, a profile created very recently with few friends and no real history, requests for money or gift cards, and messages that push you to click an unfamiliar link.

Steps on Android and iPhone

1. Open the Facebook app and go to the suspicious profile.
2. Tap the three dots (…) near the name or cover photo.
3. Tap Report profile (some versions show Find support or report).
4. Choose the closest reason, for example Pretending to be someone, Fake account, Fake name or Scam, fraud or spam.
5. If it asks who is being impersonated, pick Me, A friend or A celebrity or public figure and follow the prompts.
6. Tap Submit, then Done.

Tip: If someone is copying you, report it yourself and also ask a few trusted friends to report the same profile. Tell your friends not to accept or reply to it, and consider posting a short notice on your real profile so people know which account is genuine.

No account or locked out? You do not need to be logged in to flag impersonation. Facebook's Help Center has a form for people without an account or who cannot access theirs. Open the Help Center, search for report impersonation, and answer the question about whether you have an account.

2. How to report spam posts, comments and messages

Use the right place for each type of content, so Facebook's reviewers see exactly what broke the rules.

What you want to report	Where to tap in the app	Reason to choose
A spam post or ad	Three dots on the post > Report post (or Report ad)	Spam, Scam or fraud, False information
A spam comment	Press and hold the comment > Report comment	Spam, Scam, Harassment
A Messenger or Facebook chat message	Press and hold the message > Report, or open the chat and report the person	Spam, Scam or fraud, Harassment
A Facebook Page	Three dots under the cover photo > Report Page	Scam, Pretending to be someone, Spam
A group	Three dots under the group cover > Report group	Spam, Scam, Hate speech
A Marketplace listing	Open the listing > Report listing	Scam, Prohibited item, Misleading listing

Do not click first. Never open links, scan QR codes or share verification codes from a suspicious message, even if it appears to come from a friend whose account may have been hacked. Report it and block the sender.

3. How to report abuse, bullying and harassment

1. Tap the three dots on the abusive post, comment, photo, story, profile or message.
2. Choose Report or Find support or report.
3. Pick Harassment or bullying, Hate speech, Violence, Nudity or sexual content or the option that best matches.
4. Answer any follow-up questions, then tap Submit.
5. Choose Block when offered, so the person cannot see your profile or contact you.

If someone is in immediate danger or you receive threats of violence, contact your local emergency number or police first. Facebook reports are reviewed by Meta, not by emergency services. Save screenshots, usernames and profile links before the content is removed, because you may need them for a police or cybercrime report.

4. How to track your report in Support inbox

Every report you file is logged so you can see what happened.

1. Open the Facebook app and tap Menu (the three lines or your profile picture).
2. Tap Help & support.
3. Tap Support inbox.
4. Open Reports about others to see the status and decision.

On a computer, click your profile picture at the top right, then Help & support and Support inbox. Reports are confidential, so the account you reported is not told who reported it. The exception is intellectual property complaints, where the details may be shared with the other party.

5. What to do if Facebook does not remove it

Facebook reviews each report against its Community Standards. Reporting something many times does not make removal more likely; what matters is whether it breaks the rules. If you believe the decision was wrong:

• Open the decision message in Support inbox > Reports about others.
• Tap See options and choose Request another review if it appears. Reviews are commonly completed within about a day, but timing varies.
• Use Block so the account cannot message or find you, and Unfollow or Hide if you only want to stop seeing the content.
• For ongoing technical issues or a feature that fails, use Help & support > Report a problem. Note that this feeds product teams and is not a way to get a specific account removed.

6. Protect yourself while you wait

• Turn on two-factor authentication in Settings & privacy > Accounts Center > Password and security.
• Lock down who can message you. Set friend requests and message requests to the most restrictive option you are comfortable with.
• Limit your public profile. Fake accounts copy public photos and friend lists.
• Verify requests for money by calling the person on a number you already have.
• If your own account is hacked, use Facebook's official hacked-account recovery flow at facebook.com/hacked and change your password right away.
• Report scams to your national authority too, for example the FTC's ReportFraud.ftc.gov in the United States or your local cybercrime or consumer protection office.

Frequently asked questions

Will the person know I reported them?

No. Facebook keeps reports confidential and does not reveal your identity to the reported account, except in intellectual property cases.

Where can I see the result of my report?

In Menu > Help & support > Support inbox > Reports about others.

Can I report a fake account if I don't have Facebook?

Yes. The Help Center offers an impersonation reporting path for people without an account or who cannot log in.

How many times should I report the same content?

Once is enough. Repeated reports do not speed up a decision. Add detail in the report and request another review if you disagree with the outcome.

Is reporting a fake account the same as blocking?

No. Blocking only protects you. Reporting alerts Facebook so it can review and remove the account for everyone. Doing both is the safest approach.

Bottom line

Reporting on Facebook is quick: three dots, Report, choose the reason, Submit, then watch Support inbox. Add a block for your own safety, keep screenshots, and escalate to the police or a consumer authority when money, threats or identity theft are involved.

Sources and further reading: Facebook Help Center (Report content, Support Inbox and report-review articles), AARP guidance on reporting social media impersonation, and 2026 support-guide roundups. Facebook may change menu names and options at any time; always check the Help Center for the latest steps. This article is independent and is not affiliated with Meta. Written by App World Team.