Do I need a trademark?

Not for impersonation. You need to show the account poses as you.

Can I report from my business account?

Yes, or through the form without logging in.

Will I get the handle?

Instagram decides what happens to the account and the name.

An Instagram account is pretending to be my business

Short answer: Report it with Instagram's impersonation form, which works with or without an Instagram account. You need to show the account poses as your business, not just that it shares a word. If it also uses your registered mark, file a trademark report alongside.

By the Atclaim team · Published 30 October 2026 · Last updated 30 October 2026

Do this now

Screenshot the profile, bio and recent posts with the date visible.
Warn your followers from your real account, without tagging the fake.
File the impersonation report and attach proof the business is yours, such as a registration document.
If you hold a registered mark, file a trademark report too.
Ask customers who were contacted to report the messages from the chat.

What to write

"@[fake] pretends to be [business], which I own. It uses our logo and photos and is contacting our customers. Our official account is @[real]."

Deadlines to know

No published response time. Keep the confirmation email.

What to avoid

Fake reports from many accounts. They break Instagram's rules and do not help.
Asking customers to send money to check who is real.

Official sources

Platforms change their help pages and forms often. Follow the wording on your own screen and the current Help Center. Atclaim is an independent service and is not affiliated with Meta or any platform named on this site.