Impersonation Scams
Scammers pretend to be banks, police, delivery firms, HMRC, employers, support teams, family members, or someone you trust to pressure you into acting quickly.
Key warning
A trusted name does not prove the contact is genuine.
Caller ID, logos, email addresses, text threads, uniforms, job titles, and even familiar names can be copied, spoofed, or manipulated.
Fake authority alert
“This is urgent. You must act now.”
Impersonation scams use fear, trust, authority, and urgency to make people transfer money, reveal codes, click links, or share private information.
Common trick
“Your account is at risk. Move your money to a safe account.”
Common pressure
“Do not tell anyone. This is part of an investigation.”
Impersonations
Impersonation scams happen when criminals pretend to be banks, police, HMRC, delivery firms, employers, support teams, friends, or family to make their request feel trusted. They use urgency, fear, secrecy, or authority to pressure you into sending money, sharing codes, clicking links, or revealing personal information.
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🎭 What is an impersonation scam?
An impersonation scam is when a criminal pretends to be someone else to gain your trust. They may claim to be from your bank, the police, HMRC, a delivery company, your employer, a supplier, customer support, or a person you know.
Their aim is to make you act before you check. They may ask you to transfer money, approve a payment, share security codes, click a link, download software, reveal personal data, or keep the conversation secret.
ScamAdvisory rule
Verify the person through a route you choose, not the route they provide.
Why impersonation scams work
These scams work because they borrow trust from real organisations and real relationships. A message can feel believable when it uses the right logo, name, job title, tone, or personal detail.
Scammers often combine authority with urgency. They want you to feel frightened, helpful, loyal, or responsible so you act before speaking to someone else.
Common impersonation targets
- • Banks, card providers, fraud teams, and payment services.
- • Police, HMRC, courts, councils, and government departments.
- • Delivery firms, utility companies, insurers, and telecom providers.
- • Employers, managers, payroll teams, suppliers, and IT support.
- • Family members, friends, romantic partners, and social media contacts.
The name may be familiar, but the request may be fake
Impersonation scams can arrive by phone, text, email, social media, messaging apps, letters, QR codes, cloned websites, or even in person.
Fake bank fraud team
A caller claims your money is at risk and tells you to move it to a “safe account”.
Fake police or investigation
You are told not to speak to anyone because the matter is confidential or part of an investigation.
Fake delivery contact
A message claims a parcel, customs fee, missed delivery, or address problem needs urgent action.
Employer or CEO fraud
A scammer pretends to be a manager or executive and requests urgent payments, gift cards, or data.
Friend or family impersonation
A message says someone has a new number, is in trouble, and needs money quickly.
Fake support or IT helpdesk
A caller or pop-up says they need remote access, passwords, codes, or software installation.
Pause before obeying the request
Impersonation scams rely on pressure. If someone contacts you unexpectedly and asks for urgent action, independently verify first.
Risk level
Critical
Urgency
You are told to act immediately or face serious consequences.
Secrecy
You are told not to discuss the matter with family, colleagues, your bank, or police.
Payment or transfer request
They ask you to move money, pay a fine, buy gift cards, send crypto, or approve a payment.
Security code request
They ask for one-time passcodes, reset links, PINs, passwords, or login approvals.
Caller ID looks official
The number, sender name, email address, or logo appears genuine but may be spoofed.
Personal details used
They use some real information about you to make the contact feel authentic.
End the contact. Verify independently.
Stop the conversation if you feel pressured, rushed, threatened, or told to keep it secret.
Contact the organisation using a number, website, app, or email address you find yourself.
Never share passwords, PINs, one-time codes, card details, recovery links, or remote-access permissions.
Do not move money to a “safe account”. Banks and police will not ask you to do this.
If the message appears to come from a friend or family member, verify using another known contact method.
If you have sent money or information, contact your bank, employer, provider, or relevant organisation immediately.
ScamAdvisory
The person contacting you may not be who they claim to be.
Impersonation scams exploit trust in banks, police, government, employers, companies, friends and family. Stop, verify independently, and never act on pressure alone.