Valley business owner gets his identity stolen on Facebook

TEMPE, AZ - We know identity theft is a big problem in Arizona, but now the issue has hit the world of social networking.

To protect yourself in the real world you might double check statements and shred documents, but what do you do on Facebook where everyone is your friend?

Tempe Personal Trainer Kevin Freeland learned the hard way.

“It’s my picture, all of my information that was there was correct, where I work when I was born, where I live, but it’s a page I didn’t create,” said Freeland.

He said at first he thought it was something Facebook generated. He was shocked when he realized his Facebook identity had been stolen.

“I sit down to log onto Facebook and my notifications pop up that says that 2 people that I’m already friend’s with were now friends with me.”

It was when he clicked on his own name that he realized there was a big problem.

“Across the top of the page it said sorry I had to re-do my Facebook page,” said Freeland.

Jesse Stay is a Facebook expert and the author of “I’m on Facebook, Now What?”

He says this is not new and while it can be a hassle for you personally, it gets even worse when it’s your business. “For a business it could mean losing customers, this is something you definitely have to be careful of as a business,” said Stay.

Freeland says he uses his Facebook page to keep in touch with clients and gain new ones.

So who would do something like this to him?

“This is something that most likely someone who knows you is doing,” said Stay.

Kevin says he’s not sure who it could be, whether its someone who was mad at him or another trainer trying to discredit him in some way.

He reported the spoof page to Facebook right away by clicking on the report abuse tab on the lower left corner of the page then clicking “Fake Profile.” He says the page was removed the very same day.

So how can you protect yourself from Facebook fakers?

“I would actually set up a Google alert for your name. I think this is good for anyone online, just to know what people are saying about you,” said Stay.

Kevin has something to say to his Facebook impersonator. “What a loser, was my first thought, but whatever their purpose was I just wish they had better things to do with their time than that,” said Freeland.