Help Centre / Vetting and data
How fake-follower detection works
What Flinque looks at to estimate how real a creator's audience is, plus why a follower count alone cannot tell you.
Why a follower count is not enough
You cannot tell a real audience from a bought one by the follower number. The signs sit in the patterns around it. Flinque scores creators for fake followers so a padded audience shows up before you spend.
What the score weighs
No single clue proves a bought audience, so several are weighed together:
- Engagement that is far too low for the size of the following.
- Sudden, unexplained spikes in follower count.
- Large numbers of followers with empty or spammy profiles.
- Comment patterns that look automated rather than human.
Using the score
Treat the authenticity read as a filter, not a verdict. A weak score is a reason to look closer or pass, while a strong score lets you move ahead with more confidence. For a quick single check outside the platform, the free Fake Follower Checker covers one account at a time.