Security glossary
What are impersonation scams?
Impersonation scams happen when attackers pretend to be a trusted person, company, or support team to gain access or money.
Last reviewed: 2026-05-23
In plain English
Impersonation is powerful when attackers can reference real details from breaches or broker profiles.
Common examples include fake support agents, finance approvals, and urgent account-warning calls.
Many impersonation scams are social-engineering attacks, not technical hacks.
Real-world example
A scammer poses as your telecom provider and asks for a code to 'stop suspicious activity'.
What you should do
- Treat unsolicited support outreach as untrusted by default.
- Verify identity through official apps or published support channels.
- Set team rules for payment and account-change approvals.
Related terms
What is social engineering?
Social engineering is psychological manipulation used to make people share information or approve harmful actions.
What is spear phishing?
Spear phishing is targeted phishing aimed at a specific person, team, or role using tailored details.
What is SIM swapping?
SIM swapping is when attackers convince a telecom provider to move your number to their SIM card.