Is a friend request from someone I already follow on Facebook a scam?
Yes — receiving a second friend request from someone already on your friends list almost always means a scammer has cloned that person's account.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Explanation
Account cloning is a simple but effective scam. A criminal copies a real person's name, profile photo, and public information to create a near-identical account. They then send friend requests to that person's existing connections, hoping recipients assume it is a legitimate re-request. Once accepted, the cloned account may ask for money citing an emergency, send phishing links, or harvest information to target the victim's other contacts. The real account owner is typically unaware until friends inform them. Checking your current friends list before accepting any second request is the simplest defence.
Common red flags
- New friend request from an account identical to someone already on your list
- The new account has few posts, photos, or friends
- Account was created recently
- After accepting, the person quickly mentions a financial need
What to do now
- Check your existing friends list before accepting the request
- Message the real person through their established account to confirm
- Decline and report the cloned account to Facebook
- Alert the real account owner so they can report it too
Frequently asked questions
Can Facebook stop account cloning?
Facebook has tools to report cloned accounts and removes them when reported. Lock down your profile photos so only friends can see them — it makes cloning harder.