Name and logo misuse
Types of name and logo misuse, and how to spot them.
Name and logo misuse is when someone uses your name, logo or reputation without permission to mislead people, usually to take their money or details. Here's what it looks like, where it happens and how organizations get it removed.
What is name and logo misuse?
Your name, used without your permission.
Name and logo misuse is any unauthorized use of an organization's name, logo, products or people to deceive others. It covers impersonation accounts, fake customer support, fake shops, lookalike domains, scam ads and fake apps. Nothing on your side is hacked. Someone simply borrows the trust you've built.
In the data
What name and logo misuse looks like right now.
Patterns from the name and logo misuse cases we handled for our clients in the first half of 2026.
Warning signs
How to tell a fake account from the real one.
FAQ
Name and logo misuse questions, answered.
What is name and logo misuse?
Name and logo misuse is the unauthorized use of an organization's name, logo, products or people to mislead others, usually to take their money or personal details. It includes fake social media accounts, fake customer support, fake shops, lookalike domains, scam ads, fake apps and fake job offers.
What's the difference between name and logo misuse and impersonation?
Impersonation is one type of name and logo misuse, where someone pretends to be the organization itself, such as a fake support account or official-looking page. Name and logo misuse is the wider term and also covers unofficial sites using your name and squatted domains.
What are the most common types of name and logo misuse?
Fake social media accounts are the most common. Nearly three quarters of the name and logo misuse we handled in the first half of 2026 was on social media, and about a third of those accounts posed as customer support. Fake shops, unofficial sites using the brand and squatted domains make up most of the rest.
How can I tell if a social media account is fake?
Check the handle for extra words or numbers, look at when the account was created and how many followers it has, and see whether the brand's own website links to it. Be wary of any account that contacts you first, moves the chat to WhatsApp or Telegram, or asks for card details, one-time codes or a fee.
Can fake accounts and sites be removed?
Yes. Social platforms, hosting providers and registrars have rules against impersonation and misuse, and will act when they're given clear evidence. How long it takes depends on the platform and the case. In the first half of 2026, 92% of the fake social accounts we pursued were confirmed taken down.
What should we do if we find a fake account using our brand?
Don't engage with it. Save screenshots, the full link or handle and the date, then report it to the platform as impersonation, or request a takedown and our team will check it and handle the reports. Let customers know which accounts are really yours, and look for others, because fake accounts usually come in groups.
How can organizations prevent name and logo misuse?
You can't stop people copying a public brand, but you can make fake accounts and sites short-lived. Watch social platforms, domains, app stores and ads for your name, remove what's malicious quickly, and publish a clear list of your official accounts so customers know what to trust.
Found a fake account or site using your brand?
Send us the link and our team will check it and talk you through taking it down. Or book a demo to see how we find them first.