# Nostr: How can I tell whether an account is impersonating someone?

Compare the full public key with a key the person has shared through a trusted channel.

2026-08-09
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Switchboard Tech Services


![Nostr: How can I tell whether an account is impersonating someone?](https://switchboardtechservices.com/static/images/defaults/guides.webp)

## Short answer

Compare the full public key with a key the person has shared through a trusted channel. Display names, profile photos, and even similar-looking NIP-05 identifiers can mislead. NIP-05 only verifies a domain-to-key mapping, not a real-world identity. For money, sensitive messages, or official announcements, confirm through an independent website or direct contact before trusting a profile.

## Sources

[NIP-19: Human-readable encodings](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/19.md), [NIP-05: Internet identifiers](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/05.md).

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Canonical URL: https://switchboardtechservices.com/guides/nostr-how-can-i-tell-whether-an-account-is-impersonating-someone/

Language: en-us

Content type: guide

Author: Switchboard Tech Services

Published: 2026-08-10T03:02:25+00:00

Description: A practical answer to How can I tell whether an account is impersonating someone?