Lately, I’ve noticed a troubling trend on Facebook: the creation of fake profiles seems to have escalated significantly in Finland. Many people in my circle have reported that fake accounts have been made using their names, only to be exposed after sending friend requests to acquaintances whose alarm bells started ringing.
Right now, I’m coming across these warnings in my own network almost daily—just as I keep receiving friend requests from people whose profiles are already on my friends list. Often, these fake profiles have already managed to gather a number of mutual connections because people still tend to accept friend requests rather carelessly.
Many, especially less experienced users, assume their account has been hacked, when in reality, it’s just a copy—one that didn’t even require access to the original account. What’s particularly concerning is that this phenomenon now seems to be targeting politically active individuals, even in smaller municipalities, as well as influential voices in local social media discussions.
Is this just a case of traditional identity fraud, or is there a broader hybrid influence operation behind it?
Of course, it could be an illusion caused by the fact that my network consists largely of these types of active individuals. It’s also possible that the scale of the phenomenon only appears exaggerated due to my own social media bubble. Still, regardless of that possibility, the situation raises an important question: is this just identity fraud, or is there something bigger at play?
So far, fake profiles have mostly seemed to be linked to scams aimed at financial gain, but they can also serve as an effective tool for infiltration and propaganda. They can sneak into real people’s circles and lie dormant until the right moment to activate. Someone whose profile has been copied might not even realize it exists—especially if the fake account blocks them. If the fake version of “John Doe” has copied his latest posts, details, and profile picture, even his friends might struggle to tell which updates come from the real John and which are from the imposter.
A network of fake profiles posing as credible local activists and municipal politicians can create the illusion of a broad public consensus, making certain messages seem more believable than they actually are. Social media algorithms favor engagement, meaning such a network could artificially amplify specific narratives and shape public opinion.
Tactics like these have already been used in various parts of the world. In Ukraine, Russia employed fake profiles and systematic social media influence campaigns long before its full-scale invasion in 2022. These efforts spread disinformation, undermined trust in the government, and sought to manipulate the political climate. Similar tactics have been observed in U.S. and European elections, where fake profiles posed as local residents or public figures to spread divisive or misleading content.
In a crisis, a dormant network of fake profiles that can be activated as needed poses an especially serious risk. It can spread false information, sow distrust in authorities, and incite panic. In an emergency—such as during a military conflict—disinformation can severely hinder people’s ability to make informed decisions and follow official instructions.
The threat posed by fake profiles highlights how poorly social media platforms are able—or willing—to protect their users. Getting rid of fake profiles is often difficult, as they frequently do not violate Facebook’s community standards, at least in the platform’s view.
Social media is a central arena for information sharing and discussion in today’s world, but its vulnerabilities also make it a powerful tool for influence—one with potentially far-reaching consequences. This raises another important question: how much are we being influenced without even realizing it?