Types of YouTube spam
Impersonation scam comments on YouTube
An impersonation scam is a comment, usually a reply, from an account dressed up to look like the channel owner: the same name with an extra dot or word, the same profile picture. It tells a viewer they have won something or should get in touch, then moves them to WhatsApp or Telegram, where the money is taken.
By Dan, founder of RemoveSpam · Updated
What it looks like
@YourChannel‧Support: “Congrats, you were selected for our giveaway! Message me on Telegram to claim.”
IllustrativeIllustrative of the pattern: a lookalike name, a prize, a move off YouTube
@YourChannel-Official: “Thanks for watching! I’d like to talk to you personally about an opportunity, reach me on WhatsApp.”
IllustrativeIllustrative
How the scam works
The scammer creates an account with your channel’s name and picture, often with a small change YouTube allows: a dot, a dash, “Support”, “Official”, or a lookalike letter. They then reply to real viewers who commented on your video. Replies are personal and feel like attention from the creator, which is exactly why they work.
The message is almost always one of a few scripts: you have won a giveaway, the creator wants to share an investment opportunity, or there is a problem to sort out privately. Every script ends the same way, with a request to continue on WhatsApp, Telegram or another app where YouTube cannot see the conversation.
Why it is the most damaging kind
Most spam is a nuisance. Impersonation is fraud carried out in your name. Viewers who are scammed often believe they were talking to you, and some tell others so. The harm to your reputation can outlast the comment by a long way, even though you never knew the conversation happened.
How to protect your viewers
Tell your audience, in a pinned comment and occasionally in videos, that you will never ask anyone to contact you on WhatsApp or Telegram and never run giveaways in replies. Then remove impersonating replies as quickly as possible, because they do their damage while they are visible.
- Report impersonating accounts to YouTube from the account’s channel page (Report user → Impersonation).
- In YouTube Studio, open Settings → Community and add blocked words: coin names, “WhatsApp”, “Telegram”, and the phrases you keep seeing.
- In the same place, turn on blocking links so comments with URLs are held for review.
- Under comment settings, hold potentially inappropriate comments for review, and increase strictness if spam keeps getting through.
- On any spam comment, use “Hide user from channel” so that account’s comments stop appearing to everyone else.
How RemoveSpam handles this: Scam and impersonation detection.
Common questions
Someone is impersonating me in my YouTube comments. What should I do?
Remove the replies, hide the account from your channel, and report it to YouTube for impersonation. Then pin a comment telling viewers you never ask anyone to message you elsewhere. Because new impersonating accounts appear constantly, automatic removal is the only way to keep up on a busy channel.
Can YouTube stop people copying my name and profile picture?
YouTube removes impersonating channels when they are reported, but new ones can be created quickly, and display names do not have to be unique. Reporting helps, but it does not stop the next account from appearing.
Other types of YouTube spam
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