How to spot an imposter account

#1: If they DM you offering you a reading of some kind. I will literally NEVER EVER do this. Never. Full Stop. They will also likely ask you to donate to a venmo account. Aside from the fact that I won’t DM you asking for $$ this way, I only have one business venmo account. It’s @motherwort-and-rose.

#2: The handle spelling is off. Most instagram imposters have a handle that is VERY close to motherwortandrose, but slightly off. Some examples of imposters:

MotherwortTandrose

MotherwortandroseS

MotherwortanNdrose

_Motherwortandrose

MotherSwortandrose

MotherwortandroseO

#3: There will be less tagged photos. Likely the newer, imposter account will have zero to very few tags, compared to my real account.

#4: There will be less followers than my account (though there may still be many!)

#5: They follow your account shortly after you start following me.

Responding to imposter accounts: Report & block

Please report the accounts as imposter accounts. You do not have to engage with them. They will likely simply block you and you will be unable to report them. To report them, you can select “they are pretending to be someone else” and then “someone I know”. Then please block them and any new accounts they might make. If instagram doesn’t respond to your report, or doesn’t take action, you can provide them feedback. However, Instagram continues not to take quick action and some of my imposters have had their accounts up for months, gaining thousands of followers. So, the most helpful thing is to just be aware of what to look for and not fall for it.

please, Please, Please don’t message me about it, thank you!

I receive a near constant stream of messages from well meaning folx and friends asking me if I’ve been hacked, if this latest account that messaged them is an imposter too, or simply informing me that you’ve reported them. Your support, concern, and discernment means the world AND the most helpful thing you could do for me if you suspect an imposter is to re-read through this post, report and block the imposter account, and NOT message me about it. I am painfully aware and spending way to many hours trying to respond to this, so I’m no longer responding to messages about this, because it only takes my energy away from the work I love!

Thank you so much for your support and understanding. Now let’s turn our attention back to grief, art making, and collective care. :)

xo

Mara June