If you find yourself in a situation where someone has created a fake account in your name or is using your profile picture without your consent, here’s a guide on how to report and potentially get the account banned from WhatsApp.
Table of Contents
1. Report a fake account on WhatsApp
WhatsApp provides users with the option to report accounts for various reasons, including impersonation. To report the fake account, follow these steps:
For iPhone
- Open WhatsApp on your iPhone.
- Open the fake account chat that you want to get banned on WhatsApp.
- Tap on the user’s name or phone number at the top.
- Scroll down and select “Report” option at the end.
- Alternatively, you can block the account to prevent further communication by selecting “Report and Block” option.
For Android
- Open the chat with the fake account you want to report to WhatsApp.
- Tap on the three dots (menu icon) at the top right corner of the chat screen.
- Select “More” from the menu options.
- Choose “Report” and then “Report contact“.
- Follow the prompts to report the account as spam or fake.
The last 5 messages from the reported contact will be sent to the WhatsApp Support team automatically. They will review the account and take appropriate action accordingly.
2. Ask others to report the account
If other people in your contact have also been targeted by the fake account, ask them to report it to WhatsApp as well. When several users independently report a fake account, it strengthens the validity of the complaint. The more reports WhatsApp receives about a particular account, the higher the likelihood of that account being banned.
3. Contact WhatsApp Support via email
If reporting the account through the app doesn’t resolve the issue or if you require further assistance, you can contact WhatsApp support directly.
Before taking any action, collect evidence to support your claim. Start by taking screenshots of the fake account, including the profile picture, display name, and any conversations or activities that may be harmful or misleading.
- Open a web browser on your device such as Chrome or Safari.
- Visit the official WhatsApp website.
- Navigate to the Contact Us page for WhatsApp Messenger Support.
- Fill in the details of your phone number, email address and the device where you use WhatsApp.
- In the message box, provide all relevant information and evidence against the fake account you want to get banned from WhatsApp.
- Tap on Next Step > Send my question to WhatsApp Support. That’s it!
Once you have submitted your report to WhatsApp Support, wait for their response which usually takes 1-2 days. WhatsApp Support team will review the flagged account and take necessary actions against it.
If any suspicious activity is identified, WhatsApp might even ban the account permanently. In such a case, the reported user will recieve a message saying “This account is not allowed to use WhatsApp“.
WhatsApp account report email template
Here we have prepared an email template for you that can customise as per your needs:
Subject: Report of Fake Account for Immediate Action Dear WhatsApp Support, I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to report a fake account that has been impersonating me on your platform. The phone number is [insert number here], and it is being used to send malicious messages and engage in fraudulent activities. I kindly request that you investigate this matter promptly and take appropriate action to ban the fake account from WhatsApp. The impersonation is causing distress and potential harm to my reputation. Please let me know if you require any further information or evidence to assist with your investigation. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. Best regards, [Your Name]
WhatsApp account report email address: support@whatsapp.com
Note: If the impersonation poses a serious threat to you or causes harm/fraud in your name, you can also consider seeking legal advice and report the incident to the police if necessary.
How to ban someone from your WhatsApp
There may be situations where you need to ban someone from your WhatsApp for various reasons, such as harassment or unwanted messages. WhatsApp provides you with an option to block the account. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Launch the WhatsApp application on your device.
- Open the chat with the person you want to ban.
- Tap on the contact’s name or phone number at the top of the screen. This will take you to the contact info page.
- Scroll down until you find the “Block” option and tap on it. A confirmation prompt will appear.
- WhatsApp will ask you to confirm your decision to block the contact. Confirm by tapping on “Block” again.
Once you’ve done this, the person will be blocked from contacting you on WhatsApp.
Note: Blocking someone on WhatsApp prevents them from sending you messages, seeing your last seen, and viewing your status updates. However, it doesn’t remove them from groups or delete messages they’ve already sent.
Frequently asked questions
When you report someone on WhatsApp, the reported account and the last 5 messages from that contact are automatically sent to the WhatsApp Support team. They will review the reported account, investigate the issue, and take appropriate actions, which may include warnings, temporary bans, or even permanent bans if necessary.
WhatsApp doesn’t disclose the specific number of reports needed to delete an account. However, multiple reports from different users can strengthen the validity of a complaint. The decision ultimately rests with WhatsApp after their investigation.
WhatsApp typically takes 1-2 days to review reports. During this time, they’ll look into the issue and take appropriate action against the reported account.
Final words
Dealing with impersonation is a serious matter, and it’s essential to follow the proper channels to address the issue. WhatsApp has mechanisms in place to handle such situations, and reporting the fake account is the most effective and ethical way to resolve the problem. If you want to ask any questions regarding this topic, feel free to share them in the comments below.
Read other similar articles:
- How to Recover WhatsApp Chats After Getting Banned
- How to Prevent WhatsApp Account from Getting Banned
- How to Know If WhatsApp Account is Banned
- How to Fix Temporarily Banned on WhatsApp
- Types of WhatsApp Bans
Vivek ChaudharyVerified AuthorThis author is verified as a trusted expert and senior writer. A formal process has been completed to confirm their identity and qualifications.
