Impersonation Prevention & Enforcement

1. Purpose & Principles

Impersonation undermines user safety, erodes trust, and can result in harassment, fraud, reputational harm, or real-world danger. Friendium maintains a zero-tolerance approach toward impersonation and deceptive identity practices.

This policy exists to:

• Protect individuals from identity misuse
• Prevent fraud, scams, and social engineering
• Preserve trust in real-name interactions
• Enable swift enforcement and remediation
• Ensure compliance with consumer protection and anti-fraud laws

2. Definition of Impersonation

Impersonation occurs when an account falsely represents itself as another individual, organization, or entity in a way that may mislead others.

This includes, but is not limited to:

• Using another person’s name without authorization
• Using photos of another individual as profile images
• Claiming false affiliations or credentials
• Mimicking another person’s identity to deceive or manipulate
• Creating accounts that are easily confused with a real individual

3. High-Risk Impersonation Categories

Friendium treats the following impersonation types as especially severe:

• Impersonation of private individuals
• Impersonation of public figures or celebrities
• Impersonation of government officials or authorities
• Impersonation of businesses or employers
• Impersonation of deceased individuals without authorization

4. Prohibited Conduct

Users may not:

• Create accounts designed to confuse or mislead others
• Use deceptive usernames or display names
• Repurpose images scraped from the internet to pose as someone else
• Operate parody or fan accounts without clear labeling
• Refuse correction after being notified of impersonation

5. Parody, Fan & Commentary Exceptions

Friendium permits parody, fan, or commentary accounts under strict conditions:

• The account must clearly state its nature in the profile
• The account must not use deceptive profile images
• The account must not engage in harassment or manipulation
• The account must not mislead users about authenticity

Failure to clearly label parody or commentary accounts may result in enforcement.

6. Reporting Impersonation

Users may report suspected impersonation through Friendium’s reporting tools. Reports may be submitted by:

• The impersonated individual
• Authorized representatives
• Other users acting in good faith

7. Investigation & Verification Process

Upon receiving a report, Friendium may:

• Review account metadata and activity
• Compare profile details with verified information
• Request identity confirmation from the account holder
• Request authorization proof from the impersonated party

8. Enforcement Actions

Depending on severity, Friendium may take the following actions:

• Immediate content removal
• Profile correction requirements
• Temporary account suspension
• Permanent account termination
• Network-wide enforcement for repeat offenders

9. Emergency Impersonation Handling

Cases involving immediate harm, fraud, or safety risk may trigger expedited enforcement, including immediate account lockdown.

10. Repeat Offenders

Users who repeatedly engage in impersonation may face escalated penalties, including permanent bans across Friendium.

11. Appeals & Corrections

Users may appeal impersonation enforcement decisions. Appeals must include clear evidence supporting legitimate identity or authorized representation.

12. Legal & Regulatory Cooperation

Friendium may cooperate with law enforcement or courts in cases involving fraud, identity theft, or criminal impersonation, in accordance with applicable law.

13. Relationship to Other Policies

• Real-Name & Identity Policy
• Account Authenticity Rules
• Fake Account & Misrepresentation Policy
• Community Standards

14. Policy Updates

Friendium may update this policy to address evolving impersonation tactics or legal requirements.

15. Contact

Impersonation Reports: abuse@friendium.com
Appeals: appeals@friendium.com
Legal: legal@nexa-group.org