An exclusive Daily Beast report reveals Russian operators created a Facebook account using the identity of a real organization in an effort to reach American Muslims.
Under the name "United Muslims of America," the Russians bought targeted advertising and promoted political rallies. They also used Instagram and Twitter to spread controversial memes. The real United Muslims of America (UMA) is a 30-year-old California-based nonprofit that "promotes interfaith dialogue and political participation" but currently is inactive.
The Daily Beast says the fake group spread false stories about Secretary Clinton and Senator John McCain and claimed Osama bin Laden had been a CIA agent. In April 2017, it spread memes calling for the U.S. to stay out of Syria. It also created events and demonstrations, but while people marked themselves as having attended, it is not clear whether or not anyone actually did.
The most recent former president of the real UMA says he does not recall anyone from Facebook ever notifying him that someone else was using his group's name. Facebook deactivated the account last month.