It certainly doesn't seem genuine at all. Far too many claps on almost every article with absolutely no other engagement. Problem is how that will reflect on your stats, as you say would look like fake engagement. Although I haven't had such a severe problem as this, I have had quite a number of claps with no comments, although less now. However I am unknowingly causing this to happen outside medium by posting friend links on FB and LinkedIn it. For my new story, there were over 36 views and a few reads, the majority of views but no reads were from links I posted other than to medium members. So I think I will stop doing that as it is reflecting in poor read ratio, rather than helping. No point sharing those links only to get views. It's something I can control myself. In your case it is something you had no control over and worse it was a FOM member. One wonders why? Is it possible they don't know what they are doing and think claps count for stats and earnings? But then why only clap anyway. Shows superficial empty engagement. One would think an FOM would know how medium stats and monetization works. Maybe those I share friends links with don't as they aren't medium members. At worst this person is doing this to hurt your stats and if so, that's bad and they definitely not a FOM. They aren't supporting you but harming your read ratio. Good you called this person out. It seems to me either very thoughtless or deliberate.