Verification Badges Explained: Spot Fake Accounts and Impersonators

Scammers love copying a celebrity's photo, a company's logo or your friend's name. Badges help you tell who's real.

#Yapie badges

| Badge | Meaning | How it's earned | |---|---|---| | **Identity (CNIC) verified** | A real person whose identity was checked | ID verification | | **Notable** | A verified public figure — artist, journalist, official | Identity + notability review | | **Verified business** | A registered business or organisation | Business documents review | | **Verified (server admin)** | Official accounts of the Yapie server | Granted by the server |

Some badges are paid to cover verification costs; verification is always based on checks, not just payment.

#How to check

1. Open the **profile** (tap the name or photo). 2. Look for the **badge** next to the name and tap it to see what it means. 3. Check the **@username** — impersonators often use lookalikes (`@yap_official1`, `@yapp`).

#Red flags of impersonation

- A "celebrity" or "company" messaging **you** first. - **Giveaways** that require payment, codes or personal info. - A **new account** with your friend's name asking for money. - **Urgency** and pressure.

#Get verified yourself

Creators and businesses benefit from badges: they build trust and make impersonation obvious. See [how to get a verified badge](/blog/verified-badge-how-to-get) and [business verification](/blog/business-verification-badge).

#Report impersonators

Open the profile › **Report** › impersonation. Reports help moderators remove fake accounts quickly.

#Frequently asked questions

What does the CNIC badge mean on Yapie?

The account holder's identity was verified with their national ID.

Can someone fake a verification badge?

They can copy a name or photo, but not the badge on their profile. Always check the profile itself.

How do I report a fake account?

Open the profile, tap Report and choose impersonation.