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 Form – Submit 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.

Book Review: Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams

Reviewed by a book enthusiast who has read over 850 books

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

In Careless People, Sarah Wynn-Williams delivers a fearless exposé of Meta’s inner workings — a company she once believed in but now dissects with brutal clarity. This is not just a memoir; it’s a wake-up call about unchecked tech power.

She exposes a toxic workplace culture where ethical dissent is crushed and growth is god. Whether it’s Myanmar, misinformation, or political manipulation, Meta often knew the risks — and chose silence.

Zuckerberg is portrayed as an unyielding central authority, and Sandberg as a polished public face unwilling to confront uncomfortable truths. The leadership, she suggests, chose profits over people — repeatedly.

But what gives this book its power is Wynn-Williams' own conflict — the heartbreak of someone who once believed the mission could serve the world. It’s brave, damning, and deeply human.

Verdict: A bold 4 out of 5 stars. A must-read for anyone navigating the digital age.

Grey Clock Symbol Meaning in Facebook Search Box

 When you search for a person name in Facebook Search and if you see a grey clock symbol besides the person, then it means that the person name is already searched by you.

For example, in the following image, there is a grey clock symbol appears before the name Mark Zuckerberg, means that this name is already searched by the user in Facebook.

If you don't want to see the names then , click clear history option in the Facebook Search bar and remove the specific name or all names stored in the history.