facebook report a fake page

Facebook: How to Report a Fake Account or Page

Finding out that someone’s impersonating you on Facebook can be extremely frustrating. Some impersonators are so good at what they do that the fake pages are hard to distinguish from the real ones. Cloning other people’s accounts and impersonating them goes against Facebook’s Community Standards.

Take immediate action by reporting fake or cloned accounts and pages to Meta. Do that even if the fake accounts impersonate someone you know or a public figure, not necessarily your own Facebook account. The good news is that you can report fake profiles even if you don’t have a Facebook account.

• 1.1 Report Fake or Cloned Facebook Profiles
• 1.2 Report Fake or Cloned Facebook Pages
• 1.3 Conclusion

How Do I Report Fake Facebook Accounts and Pages?

Report fake or cloned facebook profiles.

• Go to the profile you want to report

• Select Celebrity and hit Send

If you’re not on Facebook but want to report a fake Facebook account pretending to be you, there’s a special form that you can use to get the job done. Choose the best description for your situation and follow the on-screen instructions to fill out the form.

Report Fake or Cloned Facebook Pages

• Go to the fake or cloned Page

• Click on Scams and Fake Pages
• Select Pretending to be another person
• Hit the Send button

Don’t forget to type the person’s name that the fake account is impersonating.

You can also use a special form to report Facebook pages impersonating a public figure. Remember that you can’t use this form to report fake profiles. You can only use it to report fake Pages. By the way, Meta won’t remove the fan or opinion Pages if you use this form.

If you come across a fake Facebook account or page, the best course is to report it to Meta. Go to the respective page or profile, click on “More options,” and select “Find support or Report profile/Page.” Alternatively, you can fill out a special form to report the impersonators.

Have you ever spotted a fake Facebook profile or page? Did you report it to Meta? Let us know in the comments below.

Author Madalina Dinita

Madalina has been a Windows fan ever since she got her hands on her first Windows XP computer. She is interested in all things technology, especially emerging technologies -- AI and DNA computing in particular.

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I know for sure that my Facebook account is and has been hacked for many years, especially when I try to report a violation of content, sex on Facebook, (murders on Facebook, videos),,,not likely legal, I’ve reported several videos and nothing has ever been done. Doesn’t go against community guidelines.That’s definitely not a real Facebook app.

Hello, I want to tell you that this person does not use his real name on Facebook, and he uses this name in a false way and forged his name when he joined the Facebook company, please take something about that, so as not to cause harm to the participants in the rest of the Facebook company, and thank you for your effort to We make Facebook for you a strong and safe thank you‏

always technical problem when you report someone using your personal information impersonating myself. facebook is not safe to use anymore.

What can be done if a group has been cloned?

I am disappointed that Facebook does not do a better job of helping people who are impersonated, cloned, hacked, whatever you want to call it. When I tried to report a clone using my name and cover photo, all I got was a message that FB is having a technical issue.

You can and should do better than that.

I have something.imwould. like to..report. there is. Someone. By. The. Namecof. Karen. CrosenHave.lots of fake Facebook. Pages

No this doesn’t help whatsoever, they don’t do a damn thing! It’s a nightmare to resolve.. I don’t understand why FB can’t help it’s a serious issue taking over people’s lives. Impersonation, ID theft. It’s a crime!! I’ve tried everything they send the same stuff over and over all automated crap they heap everyone in the same pile. Total BS that FB can’t figure it out it’s beyond a serious issue.

My page was NOT hacked! I have more than one account. The account passwords keep getting confused. I am unable to log in at all.

I don’t have Facebook account and I tried to report about my fake Facebook profile by using the form but it’s not allowing me to submit not sure why. Please help me on this

My profile was hacked and I cannot find a way to report it, as the scammer’s design does not allow me to report it.

My page was hacked on 5/29/22, and I am unable to log into my Facebook Account because the Hacker changed my email and password

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Last Updated on January 2, 2023 by Mitch Bartlett

How to Stop Fake Profiles on Facebook?

Key takeaways:.

• Look for signs like incomplete accounts, generic or stolen pictures, and suspicious friend requests to identify potential fake identities.
• Act quickly by reporting fake identities to Facebook using the platform’s reporting features to prevent further malicious activity.
• Adjust your account’s privacy settings to limit interactions with unknown individuals and regularly review your friend list to ensure connections are genuine.
• Protect your brand by employing monitoring services that detect and remove fake accounts, helping to maintain your online reputation and security.

Social media platforms have become an essential part of our everyday lives in the digital age, enabling global connectivity amongst people. But these sites’ success has also made them a target for illegal activity, such as the creation of false profiles.

One of the biggest social media networks, Facebook, is especially vulnerable to this problem. False profiles can be utilised for a number of dangerous things. This can include sending out false information, participating in cyberbullying, and carrying out scams.

In this article, we will learn how to stop fake profiles on Facebook, ensuring a safer and more authentic online experience.

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Impact of fake profiles.

Fake profiles can have far-reaching consequences, including:

• Privacy Breaches : Fake accounts can gather personal information from unsuspecting users, leading to potential identity theft.
• Misinformation Spread : These profiles can be used to disseminate false information, causing confusion and panic.
• Scams and Fraud : Fake accounts often engage in scams, tricking users into sharing financial information or making payments.
• Cyberbullying : Malicious actors use fake accounts to harass and bully individuals, leading to emotional distress.

Recognising Fake Profiles

To effectively combat fake accounts , it’s crucial to know how to identify them. Here are some common characteristics of fake accounts:

• Incomplete or Dubious Information : Fake accounts often have limited or suspicious information, such as a lack of personal details, a small number of friends, or generic profile pictures.
• Inconsistent Activity : Look for irregular posting patterns or activity that doesn’t match the account’s claimed identity.
• Friend Requests from Strangers : Be cautious of friend requests from people you don’t know, especially if they have few mutual connections.
• Suspicious Messages : Fake accounts may send unsolicited messages containing links or requests for personal information.

How does Facebook define impersonation: Types and Tactics

Facebook defines impersonation as the creation of a profile or page that incorporates distinguishing features from another person or brand, without authorisation, with the intent to deceive users. This can involve using someone else’s name, photos, logos, and other personal or brand-related information to create a misleading representation.

Impersonation can take several forms:

Fake Profiles

These are individual accounts made with the intention of impersonating another person. Usually, they utilise the target person’s name, avatar, and other personal information. The intention could be to commit fraud, disseminate false information, or trick friends and family.

These pages are set up to mimic official pages of celebrities, public figures, businesses, or organisations. They might use similar names, logos, and branding to mislead followers into thinking they are legitimate. The aim can be to gain followers, spread misinformation, or scam people.

Fake Groups

Furthermore, impersonators may create groups that seem affiliated with respectable organisations or causes. They recruit members, spread false information, and look for funding by using the name and branding of the actual organisation.

Profile Cloning

This is taking someone’s real profile and using it to make a fake new one. In order to make the clone account appear exactly like the original, the impostor copies the cover photo, profile image, and other publicly accessible information.

In order to obtain more personal information about the victim or carry out frauds, they then send friend requests to the victim’s connections.

Using Someone Else’s Identity

In some cases, impersonation involves using someone’s identity in comments, messages, or posts.

The impersonator might leave comments or send messages pretending to be the person they are impersonating, potentially damaging their reputation or spreading false information.

How Big Is The Fake Account Issue?

Facebook apparently deleted a remarkable 27.67 billion fake accounts between October 2017 and mid-2023—that’s 3.5 times more than the world’s population!

Early in 2023, Facebook made a prediction that 4-5 percent of all monthly active users would be phoney accounts. As of late 2023, there were over 150 million fake Facebook profiles out of the over 3 billion active users.

Strengthen Privacy Settings

To reduce the risk of fake profiles, start by tightening your privacy settings.

Go to your Facebook privacy settings and adjust who can see your posts, friend list, and personal information. Opt for “Friends” or “Only Me” rather than “Public.” This limits the visibility of your data to strangers who might use it to create fake profiles. Regularly review these settings to ensure they align with your current needs.

Report Suspicious Accounts

Report any profile you come across on Facebook that looks phoney or dubious. A few things to watch out for are blank profiles, stock images , and strange friend requests. Reporting helps Facebook take action against these accounts.

To report a profile, go to the suspect account’s page, click on the three dots (…) next to the “Message” button, and select “Find Support or Report Profile.” Follow the prompts to submit your report.

Educate Yourself and Others

It might assist you to avoid false profiles if you are aware of the common strategies they employ. Learn how phoney accounts function, such as by sending friend requests to collect personal data or by flooding your timeline with messages.

To build a more knowledgeable network, impart this knowledge to your loved ones. In order to stop the proliferation of phoney profiles and safeguard personal data, awareness is essential.

Utilise Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security to your Facebook account. It requires a second form of verification, such as a code sent to your phone, in addition to your password. This makes it more difficult for hackers to gain access to your account.

To enable 2FA, go to your Facebook settings, navigate to “Security and Login,” and follow the instructions to set up two-factor authentication.

Monitor Account Activity

Regularly check your account activity to spot any unusual actions or logins. Facebook provides a feature that shows you where and when your account was accessed.

If you notice any unfamiliar activity, secure your account immediately by changing your password and logging out of all sessions. Go to “Security and Login” settings to review your recent activity.

Engage with Verified Accounts

You can be sure that you are interacting with real people when you interact with verified accounts.

A blue checkmark denoting legitimacy appears next to the name of verified accounts on Facebook. This lessens the possibility of falling for phoney profiles that impersonate well-known people, companies, or public figures.

Always check for this verification icon before reaching out to these kinds of accounts.

Use Facebook’s Security Features

Facebook provides a number of security tools to protect your account. Utilise tools such as “Login Alerts” to get notifications of any unrecognised login attempts, and “Trusted Contacts” to help you regain access to your account if you are locked out.

To activate these measures and improve the security of your account, go to the “Security and Login” section of your Facebook settings. Keeping your security preferences up to date will help you avoid potential dangers.

How to Report an Impersonating Profile or Page on Facebook?

Report a page or profile..

• Visit the impersonating profile or Page.
• If it’s not there, try searching for the name that appears on the page or profile, or ask your friends to email you a link to it.
• Click the image beneath the cover.
• Choose Find support or report Page if you’re reporting a page.
• To file a report, follow the impersonation instructions displayed on the screen.

Report without having an account

You can report an impersonating Page or account even if you don’t have a Facebook account or if you can’t access it.

To report a Page or account impersonation, complete the contact form .

In Messenger, you may also report someone spoofing a profile or Page. Consult the Messenger Help Centre to find out how.

What’s Next?

Stopping fake account on Facebook is an ongoing issue that requires vigilance and proactive measures.

By recognising fake profile patterns, utilising advanced tools, and verifying social media accounts, you can effectively combat false content and maintain the integrity of your online presence.

Tools like Google Image search can help identify whether a profile picture belongs to a legitimate profile.

To protect your brand and ensure the security of your online presence, consider employing a monitoring service. Book a demo today to see how Bytescare Fake Profile Remover can help you detect and remove fake profiles, protect your brand, and maintain your reputation.

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Find, track and remove counterfeit listings and sellers with Bytescare Brand Protection software

What are fake profiles on Facebook?

Fake accounts are created with false information to impersonate real individuals or organisations, often used for malicious activities like spreading false content or phishing.

How can I recognise a fake accounts on Facebook?

Look for signs such as incomplete profiles, lack of genuine interactions, suspicious friend requests, and the use of generic or stolen profile pictures. Patterns like these often indicate fake profiles.

Why is it important to stop fake accounts?

Fake accounts can spread false content, steal personal information, and damage the reputation of individuals and brands. Stopping them is crucial for maintaining the integrity and security of social media accounts.

Can I prevent fake accounts from interacting with my account?

Strengthen your privacy settings, be cautious of accepting friend requests from unknown individuals, and regularly review your friend list to ensure all connections are legitimate profiles.

What can businesses do to protect their brand from fake accounts?

Businesses can protect their brand from fake accounts by monitoring social media for unauthorised use of their name or logo, reporting fake account to the platform, and educating their audience about how to identify and report imposters. Additionally, implementing strong security measures and using verification tools can help prevent the creation of fake accounts.

Why is a fake Facebook profile a form of cyber crime?

Creating a fake Facebook account is considered cyber crime because it involves deception and can be used for malicious activities like identity theft, fraud, and harassment.

These actions can lead to significant personal and financial harm to individuals and organisations, making it a serious offense under cyber crime laws.

Why someone keeps making fake facebook profiles of me?

Someone might keep making fake Facebook account of you for various reasons, such as attempting to scam your friends and followers, damaging your reputation, or engaging in harassment. It’s important to report these fake account to Facebook and take steps to protect your personal information online.

Further Reading

• How to Block a Fake Profile on Facebook
• What Happens If You Make a Fake Profile on Facebook?
• Why Do People Make Fake Profiles?
• How to Get a Fake Profile Removed From Facebook?
• How to Report a Fake Facebook Profile?
• How Long Does It Take Facebook to Remove Fake Profile
• Is It Illegal to Create a Fake Facebook Profile?
• How to Tell if a Facebook Profile is Fake?
• What is Fake Profile?

About the Author

Manish jindal.

Manish Jindal is a Co-Founder and COO of Bytescare, with expertise in investment banking and a CFA Charterholder. He actively advises startups, offering guidance in fundraising, team setup, and growth strategies.

Check latest articles from this author:

The ultimate guide to impersonation protection, what are email impersonation attacks and how to prevent, ready to secure your online presence.

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How to Recover Your Facebook Account When You Can't Log In

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Whether you forgot your password or got hacked, you can still recover your Facebook account. Most of Facebook's automated account recovery options depend on the information you entered and validated when you first set up your account. If you never completed the information or if it's outdated, chances are slim that you'll be able to regain access to your account. But you can use these options to recover your Facebook account.

1. Check if You're Still Logged Into Facebook Somewhere

Before you try to recover your account, check whether you are still logged into Facebook on any of your devices. This could be another browser or browser profile on your computer, your Facebook Android or iOS app.

If you can still access Facebook, you can try to "recover" your Facebook password without a confirmation reset code, though what you'll actually do is create a new password.

To change your password:

• Open the Accounts Center .
• If you're using the Facebook website, click your Facebook profile picture > Settings & privacy > Settings > See more in Accounts Center . If you're on the mobile app, tap your Facebook profile picture > Settings icon > See more in Accounts Center .
• In the Accounts Center, click Password and security > Change password and select your Facebook account.
• You'll have to enter your current password, followed by your new password. Click the Forgot your password? option if that's the issue.

This is also the safest and quickest method to recover a hacked Facebook account , as Facebook will let you log out of all other devices. Once you have reset your password, also consider setting up two-factor authentication on Facebook . If you can't log back into your account because Facebook retired its Code Generator, here's how you can now get a login confirmation code for Facebook .

2. Try the Default Facebook Account Recovery Options

If you couldn't find a device where you were still logged into Facebook, proceed with the following recovery options.

Recover Your Account From Its Profile Page

Use this option if you can access your profile from the account of a Facebook friend. This could be a friend or family member. Note that it will require logging out of the other account.

Find your profile on your Facebook friend's friend list, open it, and click the three-dots icon on the left-hand side of the menu bar (in the mobile app, the three-dot menu will show up next to the Message button), then select Find Support or Report Profile (on mobile, the option is Report profile ).

From the next menu, select the appropriate option, in this case Something else > Recover this account .

Facebook will log you out of the account you're using, to start the account recovery. This method will lead you to the same Reset Your Password window described under Option 2 . The recovery is based on the contact data you added to your account.

If you need more help with the recovery steps, follow the instructions from the second screenshot below.

Option 2: Find and Recover Your Account With Contact Details

If you don't have access to Facebook at all or prefer not to log out of another account, open a new browser profile and head to the Facebook recovery page .

Enter an email address or mobile number you previously added to your Facebook account. When you search for a phone number, try it with or without your country code, e.g., 1, +1, or 001 for the US—all three versions should work. Even if it doesn't say so, you can also use your Facebook username.

Once you have successfully managed to identify your account, you will see a summary of your profile. Before you proceed, carefully check if this really is your account and if you still have access to the email address or phone number listed. You may be able to choose between email or phone recovery.

If all looks well with the contact details that Facebook has on file for you, click Continue . Facebook will send you a security code. Retrieve the code from your email or phone (depending on which method you chose), enter it, and rejoice in having recovered your Facebook account.

At this point, you can set a new password, which we strongly recommend.

If the code never arrives, check your email account's spam folder, make sure you can receive text messages from unknown senders, and ensure you haven't blocked Facebook's number on your phone.

If you still can't receive the code, click Didn't get a code? in the bottom-left corner of the Enter Security Code window, which will take you back to the previous screen.

You can try again, or maybe you'll realize that you don't have access to the account after all.

Log Back Into Your Facebook Account

If you managed to regain access to your account, and if you suspect that your Facebook account was hacked , immediately change your password and update your contact information.

These are key steps in securing your Facebook account. Be sure to remove any email addresses or phone numbers that are not your own or that you can no longer access.

We strongly recommend that you enable two-factor authentication on all of your social media accounts , so that this won't happen again.

3. Use a Device Facebook Will Recognize

Often, it's not possible to recover a Facebook account using the options above. Maybe you lost access to the email address and phone number you once added to your profile. Or maybe a hacker changed this information. In that case, your only hope is to use a device Facebook will recognize.

Use the internet connection and computer or phone from which you've frequently logged into your Facebook account to access the Get back on Facebook page.

If you see this image, you're out of luck. Facebook says it's not safe for them to give you another way to log in, and that they must stop anyone who doesn't own this account from getting into it. However, you're not out of options, yet.

If Facebook recognizes your device, you will go through a similar process as described above, but this time you'll see an additional option in the bottom left.

Click the No longer have access to these? link to start a new recovery process.

When you click on Start , Facebook will ask for a new login email and send you a code to that email address. Enter your email address and click Get code .

Immediately check your email, including the spam folder or any filters, for the code sent from [email protected]. Enter the code to confirm the email address, and click Confirm . If the code didn't come through, you can either click Resend code or go back and enter a different email address.

You won't get back into your account immediately. First, you have to upload your ID to confirm it's really you who's trying to recover the account. Once you've done that, wait until Facebook gets in touch to confirm your ID verification. Be patient.

4. Report Your Hacked Facebook Account

In the event that your account was hacked and is posting spam while you can no longer access it, you should report your Facebook account as compromised on Facebook.com/hacked .

This will actually start a similar process to the one outlined above. While you will use the same information to identify your account, in the following step, you will be able to use either a current or old Facebook password to recover your account.

This is useful in case a hacker changed your password, but it may also come in handy if you forget your new password. You can find more security-related tips on the Account Security page in the Facebook Help Center.

5. Confirm Your Identity With Facebook

If all of Facebook's automated account recovery methods have failed, your last hope is Facebook support itself. Facebook has a Help Center page that lets you confirm your identity.

Upload a JPEG (photo) of your ID, enter an email address or mobile phone number that is (or was) associated with the Facebook account you wish to recover, then click Send to submit the information.

If you no longer have access to any of the email addresses or phone numbers associated with your account, enter one you have access to now. Then email [email protected] to explain your situation.

Mention that you already submitted your ID to prove your identity. Do not attach your ID to your email, as email isn't a secure form of communication.

Either way, hearing back from Facebook can take several weeks, so you'll need to be patient. If you didn't use your real name on Facebook, your hopes for recovering your account this way are close to zero.

If All Else Fails, Create a New Facebook Profile

Over the past few years, we have received countless messages from people who weren't able to recover their Facebook accounts, even after going through all of these steps, one by one. Usually, their contact information was outdated, the recovery codes Facebook provided didn't work, or the company would never respond to verify their identity. And at that point, you're out of options.

Eventually, you just have to move on. As much as it hurts, learn from your mistakes, and create a new account. Be sure to add several valid contact details, secure your Facebook account, and rebuild your profile from scratch. It's a pain, but it's better than nothing.

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Police Reveal How Scammers Using Fake Parking Tickets to Steal Personal Information

Scammers are reportedly placing fake parking tickets on vehicles to steal data from people, police said.

Aug. 3 2024, Published 3:04 p.m. ET

Police in Southern California are warning residents that scammers are placing fake parking tickets on cars, and the link for paying the "fine" may lead to fraudulent or malicious websites designed to steal data.

The Alhambra Police Department said they have received multiple calls about the scam parking citations, and shared photos of the fake tickets alongside the real thing.

The fake ticket has a QR code that directs people to a purported payment portal, and police are warning residents not to scan the code or visit the link.

"Scammers create QR codes to trick people into visiting a fraudulent website or downloading malware that compromises their personal information," police said.

Police are asking anyone who finds a scam ticket to report it to their traffic division.

"Remember, we will only refer you to our safe and secure city website: www.cityofalhambra.org. If you are unsure, don't hesitate to contact us," police said.

• Elderly California Man's Last Words Point to Son-in-Law as Killer in Family Massacre, Cops Say
• A California Nurse Went for a Jog but Never Returned. After Nearly 30 Years, Her Killer Finally Faced Justice.
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The scam is the latest to use seemingly official government documents or representatives to trick people into revealing private financial information or other data, such as jury duty scams and bail scams.

TMX contributed to this report.

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No, 1st Edition of JD Vance's 'Hillbilly Elegy' Doesn't Mention Couch Cushion 'Eroticism'

It's the 2024 election rumor that simply won't take a seat., jordan liles, published july 26, 2024.

About this rating

In late July 2024, a false online rumor about Republican U.S. Sen. JD Vance of Ohio and couches turned the page to a new chapter. In a new iteration of the rumor, online users shared and discussed a fake image, claiming it displayed a page from a first edition or galley proof of Vance's 2016 memoir, "Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis," featuring a passage about him mentioning the "eroticism" of having sex with couch cushions.

In this story, we'll dial through how we concluded the image was fake.

The Original Rumor

As we previously reported on July 23, the original rumor users posted about this matter claimed Vance's "Hillbilly Elegy" contained a passage about having sex with "an inside-out latex glove shoved between two couch cushions." This false rumor originated in a post from X user @rickrudescalves on July 15 – the same day former U.S. President Donald Trump announced Vance as his 2024 Republican vice-presidential running mate.

AP Retracts Vance-Couch Story

On July 24, The Associated Press also published a fact check about the Vance-couch rumor, displaying the headline, "No, JD Vance did not have sex with a couch" (as opposed to him simply not saying as much in the memoir).

Then, on July 25, The Verge and other publications correctly reported AP had removed its article. AP updated the live article page to read, "This story did not go through our standard editing process and has been removed." We contacted AP to ask for further details and will update this story if we receive a response. (The Internet Archive's Wayback Machine hosts an archived version of the story .)

New Rumor About First Edition or Galley Proof

Around the same time publications reported about AP retracting its article, users on Facebook and X began sharing and discussing a new iteration of the Vance-couch rumor.

The gist of the fresh rumor claimed an image showed a page from either the first edition or an earlier galley proof of Vance's "Hillbilly Elegy," supposedly containing a passage in which he had written about having sex with couch cushions.

For example, one reader emailed us a purported screenshot from the first edition of Vance's 2016 book along with the message, "About the JD Vance couch sex story: Well, someone posted that it WAS in the first edition, then removed, and the page numbers were correct for that edition. I do not know if this is true but could you investigate further?"

Another user on X posted , "It rocks that a galley proof of 'Hillbilly Elegy' surfaced with the story of JD Vance f***ing a couch. It was removed from the first edition. Story of the year."

Numerous other users on Facebook , Mastodon and X also shared and discussed the same new version of the rumor, including one X post receiving over 3 million views and, as of this writing, no publicly displayed community notes.

Photos of First Edition Copy

Author PJ McIlvaine posted on X, "We have a first edition of Vance's SHILLBILLY ELEGY and sadly, the passage of him shellacking a couch isn't in it. It doesn't mean that it never was – it could have been in a test run and then deleted or the initial paperback – but it's not in mine. I would've loved to say it was."

We traded emails with McIlvaine, asking her if she could capture pictures or video of her copy of Vance's book. She then followed up with a second post showing photos supposedly documenting the first edition, which, as expected, did not contain a passage about Vance having sex with couch cushions.

The Origins of the Fake Page

In our research, we noted that, on the evening of July 24, the user behind the X account @FalconryFinance — who told us via a direct message his name was Bernie Goldsmith — published images purportedly displaying two pages from Vance's book. The user wrote, "It's literally right here, I scanned it for you, he's obsessed."

According to the second image displaying the page number "180," Vance had purportedly written the following:

Years later, I looked at my wedding party of six groomsmen and realized that every single one of them had, like me, f***ed a couch. All of us had found ourselves beheld by the eroticism of two cushions, side-by-side, with that lush, inviting valley between. We all knew how to respect one too: With a rubber glove and any lubricant you had on hand. All of us were lonely at some point, pushed away by the women in our lives. It was our outlet and an unspoken-yet-open secret. To want for a couch is to be, and to lay with one as one does? It is a rite of passage into the chambers of manhood.

However, @FalconryFinance told us he had simply edited an e-book copy of "Hillbilly Elegy" to display the couch "eroticism" bits:

It was a simple edit of an e-book copy of JD Vance's book, "Hillbilly Elegy." I edited the raw file, which was easy, since it was a pirated copy. Then I imagined the great expanse of Mr. Vance's sweat-slickened back curving over the loveseat he made his wife buy for them, the hussy with four legs and every kind of hole, I imagined these things as possible futures, in a meditative fugue, much like a real life Dr. Strange. I pulled the most likely reality out of this haze and then wrote it into the file. Then I loaded it up in my e-reader and took screenshots. Then I sent it on the internet to hopefully complete the work of my dark master, Lucifer, the liberator and bringer of forbidden light.

In a later message, @FalconryFinance said he used the free Notepad++ editor to modify the e-book's .mobi file. He also posted videos about the Vance-couch matter on his TikTok channel .

On the morning after sharing the fake page image, @FalconryFinance posted on X, "You better be laughing with me today because my jokes are the kind that are funny tomorrow."

Colvin, Jill, et al. "Trump Picks Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, a Once-Fierce Critic Turned Loyal Ally, as His GOP Running Mate." The Associated Press , 15 July 2024, https://apnews.com/article/trump-vice-president-vance-rubio-burgum-rnc-6cc438a8370a21b2631f5a53b06b71d0.

"Galley Proof." Collins Dictionary , https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/galley-proof.

Liles, Jordan. "No, JD Vance Did Not Say He Had Sex with Couch Cushions." Snopes , 23 July 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/jd-vance-couch-cushions/.

McIlvaine, PJ. "I've Been Asked to Post the Pages/Book of My First Edition of HILLBILLY ELERGY to Quell..." X , 26 July 2024, https://x.com/PJMcIlvaine/status/1816876140667023552.

Sato, Mia. "The Associated Press Removes a Fact-Check Claiming JD Vance Has Not Had Sex with a Couch." The Verge , 25 July 2024, https://www.theverge.com/2024/7/25/24206088/jd-vance-fact-check-sex-couch-rumor-associated-press-retraction.

"Search with an Image on Google - Computer." Google Search Help , https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/1325808.

"Wayback Machine." Internet Archive , https://web.archive.org/.

By Jordan Liles

Jordan Liles is a Senior Reporter who has been with Snopes since 2016.

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Grand jury accuses six in scheme that stole checks, spread fake $20 bills in Northwest Ohio

• Updated: Jul. 30, 2024, 2:09 p.m.
• | Published: Jul. 30, 2024, 2:01 p.m.

Six people were indicted in Williams County on charges related to counterfeit, identity theft and fraud. Phil Ashley | Getty Images

• Lucas Daprile, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio – A grand jury has indicted six people, accusing them of participating in a fraud and counterfeit money ring that sought to steal checks and spread fake $20 bills in rural Northwest Ohio.

The six charged are Cooper Rademacher, 21; Kalie Gibler, 22; Noah Frisby, 23; Dion Fleet, 23; Brandon Randolph, 23; and Dale Champion, 20, according to the Ohio attorney general’s office and a Williams County indictment.

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Vice President Kamala Harris’ husband Doug Emhoff on Saturday admitted cheating on his first wife, following a bombshell report claiming he once got the family nanny pregnant.

The second gentleman reportedly strayed from then-wife Kerstin over a decade-and-a-half ago with a blonde nanny, Najen Naylor, who taught at a private school attended by their two kids.

Naylor did not keep the baby, a close friend with direct knowledge of the affair and pregnancy told The Daily Mail . It’s unclear what, exactly, the friend meant.

Hours after the outlet’s report, Emhoff admitted having an affair in a statement to CNN that didn’t name Naylor or address her alleged pregnancy.

“During my first marriage, Kerstin and I went through some tough times on account of my actions. I took responsibility, and in the years since, we worked through things as a family and have come out stronger on the other side,” Emhoff said.

The affair was disclosed to President Biden’s vetting committee four years ago before he chose Harris as his running mate on the 2020 ticket, a source familiar with the conversations told CNN.

The person also said Emhoff told Harris about the affair well before they got married and that the relationship ended before Emhoff began dating Harris.

Naylor didn’t deny the affair or pregnancy when approached by the Daily Mail at her Hamptons home.

“I’m kind of freaked out right now,” she reportedly said.

Naylor could not immediately be reached for additional comment Saturday.

One of Naylor’s neighbors outside of her modest, rustic Hampton Bays home, told The Post she is “a very nice lady” who was pregnant when they first met.

“When she moved in three years ago, she was pregnant and said the baby was from a sperm donor,” the neighbor said.

Naylor also has another small child, she said, but she has not seen any teenage children — which would be the child’s age from the alleged affair with Emhoff — on the property.

A woman who answered the door at the home of one of Naylor’s relatives declined to answer questions Saturday, telling The Post, “I’m not the person you should be talking to.”

Stacey Brooks, a friend of Naylor’s who gave birth to twin boys around the same time Naylor was allegedly expecting, didn’t deny the claims. Instead, she told the Daily Mail she could not discuss the matter without Naylor’s permission.

The news is reportedly causing serious concern in Harris’ camp despite recent polls showing former President Donald Trump’s battleground-state advantage appears to have evaporated since the veep became the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.

Emhoff, 59, and his movie producer ex-wife divorced in 2009 after she apparently discovered the affair, sources told the outlet. They have a son Cole, 29, and a daughter Ella, a 25-year-old model and fashion designer.

The couple cited “irreconcilable differences” in their divorce papers, records show.

Messages left with Harris’ camp were not returned Saturday. Kerstin Emhoff, 57, could not immediately be reached.

In September 2009, Naylor posted a video on Facebook to “introduce’ three babies, which she captioned, “Baby party!”

Two of the babies were Brooks’ children, born two months prior to the post.

The third child, who appears slightly younger, does not appear to be Brooks’ daughter, and is not in any later Facebook family photos. It is unclear who the third child’s mother is.

After the alleged affair, which appeared to have taken place around 2008 or 2009, Naylor allegedly had to leave her job as a teacher at The Willows, a swanky private elementary school in Culver City, California, where she had been teaching the Emhoff children and moonlighting as a nanny for the then-couple, the outlet reported.

Tuition fees at the K-8 school ranges from $32,525 to $41,535.

“[Naylor] was a lovely person, a great teacher to my kids,” a mother who sent her children to the school around that time and was aware of the affair, told the Daily Mail.

The woman also told the outlet she was disgusted by Emhoff.

There’s no birth records in Los Angeles County for anyone named “Brook Naylor” born in 2008 or 2009 – nor were there any babies born in the county those years with the last name “Emhoff,” the outlet reported.

The second gentleman is a strong advocate of abortion, telling NBC News in May that men mustn’t view it as a women’s issue, but rather a family issue.

“This is an issue of fairness to women,” Emhoff said.

A friend close to Naylor who knew her around the time of the alleged affair denied the allegations to The Post, insisting Naylor never got pregnant.

“She was adorable; everyone loved her; she was the best teacher,” said the celebrity event planner, who lived with Naylor for more than a year “17 or 18 years ago.”

“Every parent wanted her to be the teacher for their kid. She was the perfect person. She came from a good family. She was not pregnant. There was no baby. I would know,” the source said.

Naylor’s move to New York left the friend “bummed,” she said, adding she hadn’t been in touch with Naylor in recent years, but “heard” Naylor “had two kids recently and [is] so happy for her.”

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