Have you discovered duplicate or dummy Facebook accounts under your name? You are not alone. A sudden surge of fake accounts has surfaced allegedly targeting students, activists, journalists, and others over the weekend amid the series of protests for the scrapping of the controversial Anti-terrorism bill.

The alarm was first reported by U.P. Cebu’s official student publication Tugani, which said fake accounts of student activists who were arrested in a protest on June 5 were discovered.

Thousands of users across the country have also reported multiple ghost users that bear their names without any picture indicated on the profile.

Many have seen this attack as a tactic to scare the critics of the administration. The call for the ‘mass reporting’ of these accounts has blown up and lit up as another source of rage for netizen.

Found 3 fake Facebook accounts using my name last night. Already down (I think?) after I reported. One good thing about having a unique name is I’m sure the accounts are not owned by actual people with the same name as mine. pic.twitter.com/7TBptLnofU

— Jodesz Gavilan (@jodeszgavilan) June 7, 2020

This kind of threat may put many people in danger. It may cause harm to someone else’s identity and a channel to spread false information online. You should act now, report all the impostor accounts you may see and encounter.

However, due to limited reviewers that can accommodate requests because of the pandemic, expect that Facebook may not reply immediately.

But here's how one can report these fake accounts:

1. Go to the profile page of the account you want to report. Click the three dots (...) and select "Find support or Report Profile."
2. Select "Pretending to be Someone" if the profile you are reporting is either you, your Facebook friend or a celebrity. 
   You may also select "Fake Account." 
3. Facebook will require you to enter the name of your friend who you claim is a victim of an impostor. Type the name of your friend and proceed.
4. Facebook will ask if the profile you are reporting is against its Community Standards. Click the box and report.
5. Wait for Facebook's reply under your Support Inbox or wait for a notification.

#HandsOffOurStudents trends online as numerous fake accounts were linked with students, officials, and alumni. Top universities in the country have issued statements over the reports.

FACEBOOK: “CONTINUE REPORTING ANY ACCOUNTS THEY BELIEVE MAY BE INAUTHENTIC”

After the alarming news, the social media platform has issued a statement and started an investigation regarding the issue.

"We understand the concerns raised by our community in the Philippines. We're investigating reports of suspicious activity on our platform and taking action on any accounts that we find to be in violation of our policies," Facebook company spokesperson said in a statement released to GMA News Online via email.

ONLINE THEFT IS PUNISHABLE BY LAW

Justice Secretary Menandro Guevarra said that he will immediately direct the DOJ Office of Cybercrime to coordinate with the [National Bureau of Investigation] and [Philippine National Police] cybercrime units to promptly investigate the apparent proliferation of fake or dummy accounts on Facebook.

The Cybercrime office warned that the creation of fake or ghost accounts falls under the crime of computer-related identity theft, as defined in Section 4(b)(3) of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 or Republic Act No. 10175.

Under that law, the office of the Cybercrime explained that the online-related identity theft is the intentional acquisition, use, misuse, transfer, possession, alteration or deletion of identifying information belonging to another, whether natural or juridical, without right, and with or without damage.

Those who found guilty of committing computer-related identity theft will serve jail time of 6 years and 1 day to 12 years or will be meted a fine of at least P200,000 up to a maximum amount commensurate to the damage incurred, or both.

Also, the National Privacy Commission has monitored the said issue and brought concern to Facebook.

Some may find this issue a bluff to shut the movement against the government but many have seen it another opportunity to continue the fight of voicing out what’s right and wrong.

LET’S REPORT FAKE FACEBOOK ACCOUNTS!