Sunday, May 25, 2025

The Rise of Fake Profiles on Facebook: My Experience, Frustration, and What You Need to Know

Have you ever opened your Facebook account, only to be bombarded with friend requests from suspicious-looking profiles? Names you’ve never heard of. No mutual friends. Odd profile pictures. And then—descriptions like “VM WhatsApp Video Calling Service”? Yeah, me too. And to be honest, it’s getting really annoying.

As someone who’s been using Facebook for well over a decade, I’ve seen the platform evolve—from a friendly social network into a massive digital ecosystem. But along with that growth has come a dark underbelly: the spread of fake profiles, especially those offering shady “services.”

Why This Bothers Me (and Should Bother You Too)

Lately, I’ve noticed a pattern. Every week, I get multiple friend requests from profiles that clearly aren’t genuine. They often have:

  • Blurry or overly edited profile photos.
  • Strange names with random characters.
  • Bios that read: “VM WhatsApp call 24/7,” “Live video service,” or worse—direct phone numbers.
  • No mutual friends or connections.

I decided to report them. That’s when my disappointment deepened. Facebook mostly did... nothing.

A Platform With AI Muscle, But Soft on Fake Accounts?

We live in an age where AI can compose music, diagnose diseases, and write poetry, yet Facebook—a tech giant under Meta—struggles to detect blatantly fake profiles? That’s hard to digest.

Here’s what I believe is happening:

  1. Inflated User Numbers Help Business – More profiles = more engagement = better ad numbers.
  2. Fake Profiles Often Stay Under the Radar – They rarely trigger immediate red flags.
  3. Not Enough Human Moderation – AI handles most reports, often poorly.
  4. Fear of Mistaken Bans – Facebook avoids overcorrecting and often lets suspicious profiles slide.

What Are These “VM WhatsApp Video Calling Services” Anyway?

Most of these are scams, spam traps, or gateways to adult content. They misuse WhatsApp’s branding, which itself violates Meta’s trademark policies. Yet, they persist and thrive on Facebook.

What You Can Do Right Now

If you encounter these profiles, here’s how you can respond:

  • Report the Profile – Use the built-in “Find support or report” option.
  • Use the Official Impersonation FormSubmit here.
  • Take Screenshots – They help as proof for escalation.
  • Warn Others – Share your experience and raise awareness.

The Bigger Question: Is Facebook Still Safe?

Despite its flaws, Facebook is still useful for businesses, creators, and communities. But platforms must protect user trust. Fake profiles offering shady “video calling services” damage that trust and pose real risks.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Stay Silent

If this problem still exists years from now—call it out. Speak up, report, share your experiences. The internet evolves, but trust and safety must remain constant.

I’m not against technology. I’m against complacency in the name of profit. Let’s clean up the web—one fake profile at a time.

Have you faced similar experiences? Drop your thoughts in the comments below. If you found this helpful, share it. Let’s stay safe together.

No comments: