How can we find out the author/owner of this fake Facebook page

Aubrey_Thicket

Hi all

I am writing this for a friend who runs a small Pub nearby. She is a lovely lady but is quite upset that somebody has created a Facebook page about her Pub complete with images of the Pub and fake reviews. For a couple of years now the faker has been posting free drinks offers, fake entertainment nights, fake opening hours etc. To be fair it’s not nasty stuff. Just a load of fake stuff that puts people out. Last month a minibus full of people arrived with all the people expecting to see the advertised Elvis tribute. Of course there was no act and the people were really annoyed at the Pub owner. The posts are increasing by the day now and the owner is becoming quite upset. So, a friend wrote to Facebook and asked them to remove the page. However, Facebook refused stating that because the page contained no malicious content they wouldn’t take it down.
Does anybody have any ideas what can be done? From a technical point of view is there any way we can find who is responsible for the posts? Ie tracing the IP address etc??

Thanks all.

agrinnall

Why doesn't she create her own real FB page and regularly update it to counter every false item posted on the fake one? As well as putting on information about real offers and events of course.

googler

agrinnall wrote: »

Why doesn't she create her own real FB page and regularly update it to counter every false item posted on the fake one? As well as putting on information about real offers and events of course.

Because she shouldn't be obliged to do this by the presence of a blatantly-fraudulent equivalent.

Because she's got ... you know ... real work to do?

At the end of the day, unfortunately, the remedy is probably to shame Facebook into action. If she's prepared to have her photo taken looking glum in the Maily Dail, along with the accompanying story of hardship .... however, in case she hasn't seen these ....

How to shut down imposter accounts, by tech advisor

https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/how-to/social-networks/how-report-someone-impersonating-you-on-facebook-or-twitter-3657210/

Facebook's guide

https://www.facebook.com/help/167722253287296

littlerock

it's an offence known as "passing off". maybe she could point out to fb they are allowing fb to be used o commit an actual legal offence

Mojisola

agrinnall wrote: »

Why doesn't she create her own real FB page and regularly update it to counter every false item posted on the fake one? As well as putting on information about real offers and events of course.

googler wrote: »

Because she shouldn't be obliged to do this by the presence of a blatantly-fraudulent equivalent.

Because she's got ... you know ... real work to do?

Doesn't advertising your business count as real work?

Just about every pub round here has its own FB page - those who don't miss out on trade.

googler

Mojisola wrote: »

Doesn't advertising your business count as real work?

She shouldn't be forced into a particular style of advertising by the presence of a blatantly-fraudulent equivalent in that arena.

If she wants to run her pub without FB, with other style of advertising (or even none), she should be left to do so.

Real work is not running around keeping an eye on, and countering, fraudulent stuff from elsewhere.

Mojisola

googler wrote: »

She shouldn't be forced into a particular style of advertising by the presence of a blatantly-fraudulent equivalent in that arena.

I shouldn't have to lock my doors when I leave home but I'm 'forced' to because some people are thieves.

She can either be realistic and do something about what's happening or put up with the negative effects on her business.

littlerock

as explained previously, pretending to be someone else's business is a legal offence called passing off, in the uk. She should explain this to fb or get a solicitor to tell them. I must say I think some of the replies here are unhelpful point scoring. where are your manners?

littlerock

https://www.inbrief.co.uk/intellectual-property/passing-off/

[Deleted User]

A pub with no Facebook? it's 2017 and nearly every business has one, especially places like pubs and eating out places. She probably upset someone for not making right a dodgy pint.

People says pubs close down by the 1000s a year due to rising costs and cheap supermarket beer. To an extent yes, but pubs also die when they sell crap beer with poor customer service.

And when I say crap beer, I don't mean Fosters, I mean beer that tastes funky and gone off.

AndyPix

Its possible - but is not a quick or easy job.


It involves combining various techniques including a degree of social engineering.


The police however could force facebook to release the IP and then force the ISP to give details of the current leaser of that IP. But I wouldn't hold my breath