What it is
In an impersonation scam, the criminal pretends to be someone you trust — your bank, the police, the tax authority, a delivery company or a well-known brand — to get money or information from you.
How it works
- You receive a call, text or email that appears to come from a real organisation; caller ID can be faked.
- You’re told there’s a problem: fraud on your account, unpaid tax, a missed parcel, a legal issue.
- The “solution” requires action now: move money, share a code, install an app or pay a fee.
Red flags
- Being asked to move money to a “safe account”.
- Requests for one-time passcodes or your PIN.
- Threats of arrest, fines or account closure.
- Being asked to keep the call secret or stay on the line.
A real-world example
The US Federal Trade Commission adopted a rule in 2024 that lets it go straight to court against people who impersonate government agencies and businesses, after impersonation became one of the most-reported fraud types.
How to protect yourself
- Hang up and call back on a number you find yourself — ideally from another phone.
- Your bank and the police will never ask you to move money to keep it safe.
- Never share one-time passcodes with anyone.
- Don’t install remote-access apps at a caller’s request.
If it happened to you
- Call your bank now using the number on your card. Speed is the biggest factor in getting money back.
- Stop all contact with the scammer and don’t send more money — including “fees” to recover losses.
- Keep evidence: screenshots, numbers, emails, transaction references.
- Report it to the police and your national fraud reporting service.
Step-by-step help by country: I’ve been scammed — what now?
The rules
The FTC Impersonation Rule (US) allows civil penalties and refunds. In the UK, bank-impersonation APP scams are covered by mandatory reimbursement, and proposed EU payment rules would require refunds for some bank-staff impersonation fraud.
Source: www.ftc.gov
