Community Chat

[Buck-i-Nana]

My Dad died 13 years ago. Without giving too much info, he was in a profession that has many followers and fans and it seems one fan set up a facebook fan page. Problem is, he set it up just using Dad's name, not saying "Fan Page" or anything and has used a pic of my Dad as his profile pic.

It popped up on my page and my kids pages as a post by my Dad with Dad's pic....shudder....

I contacted the man and he refuses to change it even though there are even posts on the page of people who somehow have forgotten Dad died and are posting as though it IS my Dad asking him questions and "do you remember when we met" type posts. Sigh.

[JustJazzmom]

Contact facebook and ask them to take it down.

[terrier3]

FB will remove it if you ask.

[DoneTryin]

Do you have any recourse by going directly to FB & reporting it? While I have a FB page (don't ask me why-I don't know), I really don't add to it & don't really know how it all works. Seems like what he's doing is fraudulent.

[Lion]

Definitely contact Facebook. He should not be doing that. I'm sorry he's putting you through this.

[Irshgrl31201]

I am so sorry this is happening to you Buck-i-nana. How terrible that you asked and he refused. I can understand why you are upset that people think this is your father. I would contact FB.

[Buck-i-Nana]

I've thought about approaching Facebook, but it many areas the rules are different for people who are classified as public figures. I know frequently if you look for a public figure on facebook, you'll get multiple pages. The actual person, if they have a page, will include language that it is really them and the only true page.

I think the creepiest part is the profile pic, but again, that pic is in the public domain, so anyone could use it.

I still might contact them, just to see what they say, and maybe they could make an appeal for some minor changes that this guy would be more willing to listen to.

[Marp2]

If the "fan" is commenting to any of the posts as if s/he were actually your Dad perhaps you could approach FB on the basis of impersonation leading to false belief that your Dad is still alive they might be more receptive.

Also, are you comfortable that this is just a poorly conceived tribute or could it possibly be a set up for a scam? As uncomfortable as it may be keeping an eye on the page might be a good idea.

[Buck-i-Nana]

On 10/30/2014 Marp2 said:

If the "fan" is commenting to any of the posts as if s/he were actually your Dad perhaps you could approach FB on the basis of impersonation leading to false belief that your Dad is still alive they might be more receptive.

Also, are you comfortable that this is just a poorly conceived tribute or could it possibly be a set up for a scam? As uncomfortable as it may be keeping an eye on the page might be a good idea.

I think it is really just a poorly conceived tribute.

I just did a little bit of research on FB regarding pages and found this, which I messaged to the page...I asked again that the page administrator change the name that they post to indicate "administrator" or something similar as their posting with just Dad's name and pic is in violation. I advised that if it isn't changed by tomorrow I will report the page to facebook.

"B. Any user may create a Page to express support for or interest in a brand, entity (place or organization), or public figure, provided that it does not mislead others into thinking it is an official Page, or violate someone's rights. If your Page is not the official Page of a brand, entity (place or organization) or public figure, you must:

i. not speak in the voice of, or post content as though it was coming from, the authorized representative of the Page’s subject matter; and

ii. make clear that the Page is not the official Page of the brand, entity (place or organization) or public figure."

[Marp2]

That sounds like a good approach Buck-I. Hopefully they will take your request to heart and make the appropriate changes.