Imagery employed for deceptive online personas on social media platforms such as Facebook typically involves the acquisition and utilization of pictures not belonging to the profile creator. This can range from stock photography and publicly available images scraped from the internet to, in some instances, misappropriated pictures of unsuspecting individuals. For example, an individual might select a stock image of a smiling person to represent a fabricated identity intended for engaging in online activities anonymously or with malicious intent.
The prevalence of such image use highlights a significant concern regarding online authenticity and potential misuse. Historically, the ease with which images can be obtained and deployed has fueled the proliferation of these misleading profiles. This practice can have repercussions ranging from minor social engineering tactics to more serious fraudulent activities and identity theft. It compromises the integrity of online interactions and erodes trust within social networks.
