Cyber Security Philippines says FB fake account 'attackers' reference 'work, school', urges to report issue to the NPC

Cyber Security Philippines said the "attackers" behind the fake account on Facebook are referencing either "work, school, and other records." 

"To those affected with the surge of fake accounts bearing your real names. Check when was the last time you used the combination of your name work or school?" The non-profit said in a statement posted on Facebook.

It asked complainants to look at the languages, languages declared on CV and the most used languages in social media, which they highlighted on the photo shared on Facebook.

According to Cyber Security Philippines CERT, after determining the source of your name based on the combination or layout, you should proceed to reporting such fake accounts to the National Privacy Commission.

The University of the Philippines earlier issued a statement over received reports that fake Facebook accounts have been created for students, officials and alumni. 

DLSU followed, saying students have also become victims of reported duplicate Facebook accounts.

As of this writing, FAKE ACCOUNTS is on the top trending list in Philippine Twitter with over 80,000 tweets  from netizens who were alarmed and complaining over surfacing fake and empty accounts on Facebook.

How to report a fake account

According to Facebook, "Accounts and Pages that impersonate other people go against our Community Standards and aren't allowed" on the platform.

To report, search the name used on the fake profile or page, or ask your friends to find it and click the three dotted icon on the cover photo.

If you're reporting a profile, select Find Support or Report Profile then follow the on-screen instructions for impersonation to file a report.

Meanwhile, if you don't have a Facebook account but someone is using your name for an account you can fill out this form.

If you're curious about who created a fake account after your name, Facebook said "you should first contact a lawyer or your local law enforcement agency and discuss this issue with them."

Should you decide to pursue legal action, the lawyer or the officer can review Facebook's operational guidelines by following the instructions listed.

"Once they contact us, we'll be able to communicate with them regarding this issue. Please be aware that there are situations where we may be unable to retrieve the information you have requested due to technical limitations," Facebook said. — LA, GMA News