PanicStation.org
UK USA
uk Sexual violence & highly sensitive situations fake dating profile using my photos • impersonation on dating apps • catfish account using my pictures • someone pretending to be me online • sexual messages sent as me • fake tinder profile with my photos • fake hinge profile with my photos • fake bumble profile with my photos • online sexual harassment impersonation • profile scam using my identity • my photos used for sexting • strangers contacting me from fake profile • fear of being blamed or shamed • worried about reputational harm • panic after finding fake account • someone is soliciting sex as me • deepfake or edited sexual images concern • urgent takedown of impersonation • doxxing risk from fake profile

What to do if…
you find a fake dating profile using your photos with sexual messages attached

Short answer

Pause, don’t engage with the impersonator, and focus on getting the profile taken down: report it in-app and save just enough evidence (screenshots/URL) in case you need support from the platform or police later.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t message or threaten the person running the account (it can escalate or prompt them to spread more).
  • Don’t send money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or more photos to “make it stop”.
  • Don’t post public call-outs with the profile link or screenshots that reveal your details (it can amplify it and draw more attention).
  • Don’t hand over logins or codes to anyone claiming they can “remove it” for you.
  • Don’t keep re-checking the profile over and over (it keeps you activated and rarely speeds up takedown).
  • Don’t assume it’s your fault or that you must handle it alone.

What to do now

  1. Get to a calmer, safer moment. If you feel physically unsafe or are being threatened with immediate harm, call 999.
  2. Record minimal evidence, then stop looking. Take a few screenshots showing:
    • the profile name/handle and photos
    • the sexual messages or “about” text (enough to show what’s happening)
    • the app/site name and any URL/profile link
      Save them somewhere private. Do not download or share any sexual images. If anything appears to involve a child/under-18 imagery, stop collecting evidence and move to reporting (step 6).
  3. Report the profile inside the dating app/site immediately. Use the platform’s Report / Impersonation / Fake profile options. If there’s a “pretending to be someone else” category, choose that.
  4. Use a takedown helper if the platform response is slow. Use Report Harmful Content for step-by-step reporting routes (including for major dating apps) and escalation guidance.
  5. If intimate/sexual images of you are involved (or you fear they may be shared), get specialist support.
    • If you are 18+ and the content involves intimate images: contact the Revenge Porn Helpline (UK) for confidential guidance and help with removals.
    • If you are 18+ and you still have the intimate image(s), StopNCII.org may help prevent re-uploads on participating platforms.
  6. If any content involves someone under 18 (even if it’s “self-taken”), treat it as a child safety issue. Don’t forward it to anyone. Report it:
    • Online child sexual abuse imagery: report to the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF).
    • If a child is in immediate danger: call 999. Otherwise, report to police via 101 / your local force’s online reporting.
  7. Reduce immediate risk of escalation.
    • Tighten privacy on your social media (limit who can message you, hide phone/email if visible).
    • Ask trusted friends to ignore and report the fake profile if they see it (no arguing with the account).
  8. If there are threats, blackmail, stalking, or repeated contact from strangers, involve police.
    • If you’re in immediate danger: 999
    • Otherwise: contact police via 101 (or your local force’s online reporting).
  9. If it looks like a scam and people may be losing money, report it using the right route.
    • England, Wales, or Northern Ireland: consider reporting to Action Fraud.
    • Scotland: report to Police Scotland (via 101 / online reporting).
  10. If you feel overwhelmed or unsafe emotionally, get immediate support. If you can’t settle, consider contacting Samaritans (116 123) right now—this is about stabilising, not powering through.

What can wait

  • You do not need to figure out who did it right now.
  • You do not need to write a perfect statement, gather lots of “proof”, or keep re-checking the profile.
  • You do not need to decide today whether to pursue a formal complaint, legal route, or wider disclosure.

Important reassurance

This is a common form of abuse and impersonation. Feeling shocked, exposed, angry, or nauseated is a normal response. You’re allowed to focus on takedown and safety first—identity, blame, and “why me” can wait.

Scope note

These are first steps to reduce harm and buy time. If the behaviour continues, involves threats/extortion, or starts affecting work/home life, you may want specialist help (platform safety teams, specialist helplines, or police) to reduce ongoing risk.

Important note

This guide is general information for the first moments after discovering an impersonating profile. It isn’t legal advice, and it can’t assess risk in your specific situation. If you are in immediate danger, call 999.

Additional Resources
Support us