False ego is when we identify ourselves with this body. And expanded version of this is, I am Engineer, Indian, father, mother etc…
The chief function of the false ego is godlessness. The constitutional position of a person is being a subordinate to the Supreme Lord, When a person forgets his constitutional position and wants to be happy independently, he functions mainly in two ways.
This false idea of becoming one with the Lord is the last snare of the illusory energy, which traps a living entity
into the bondage of forgetfulness under the spell of false ego.
reference: Srimad Bhagavadam SB 3.5.31