Impersonation scams: when the message looks familiar, how to tell it's fake
Quick answer
If someone you didn't expect asks for money or personal details, it may be an impersonator, even when the name looks familiar. Don't pay or click. Look up the real contact details yourself, check with them, and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- Comes by
- Phone call, Text, Email, Social media
- First reported
- Latest official alert
- (FTC)
- Last updated
Reviewed by Anthon Wansland
Head of Product & Co-Founder
Serus is a privacy company with paid tools to find and remove your personal data. This page is free and based on official sources.
How it works
Impersonation scams work because the sender looks like someone you know or trust. The FTC says scammers pose as the government (saying you owe a fine or a toll), as your bank (saying something is wrong with your account), or as a person you know, like a grandchild in trouble.
The FTC says impersonation scams are, year after year, the top fraud reported to it, and people reported losing nearly $3 billion to impersonators in 2024.
The contact is unexpected, and it asks you to do something: send money, click a link, or hand over account or personal details. Caller ID can be faked, so a familiar name or number on your screen proves nothing. Scammers even pose as the FTC itself, with fake letters that threaten to shut down your accounts and tell you to call an "officer". The FTC says anyone claiming to be from the FTC who demands money or threatens you is a scammer.
Sources checked: consumer.ftc.gov
Last verified against the official page:
Red flags
- An unexpected call, text or message that asks for money or personal information
- A threat or a deadline: a fine, a toll, a frozen account, someone in trouble
- Caller ID showing a name or number you recognize (it can be faked)
- A link in a message you weren't expecting
- A demand for money from someone claiming to be from a government agency
Example message
Hi, this is the fraud team at [bank name]. We've seen a problem with your account and need you to confirm your details right away. Call [phone number] or tap [link] to fix it.
What to do
- 1
Don't pay or share anything
Don't give money or personal information to someone who contacts you unexpectedly, however familiar they sound.
- 2
Check using details you looked up yourself
If you're not sure, contact the business, organization or person using contact information you found yourself and know to be true, not what the message gave you.
- 3
Don't click links in unexpected messages
Scammers send emails, texts and social media messages made to look like they come from a government agency or business.
- 4
If you gave out personal or financial details
Go to IdentityTheft.gov for the specific steps for what you shared. Contact your bank or card issuer if you paid or shared account details.
- 5
Report it
Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, even if you're not sure it's a scam. The FTC says your report could help it stop scammers.
Report it
Check if your details are exposed with Serus
Scammers find your number and address on data brokers and people-search sites. Serus removes them.
Why you got it
Impersonators sound convincing when they know your name, your bank or where you live. Those details are easy to find on people-search sites and show up in data breaches. Serus finds where your personal details are listed and removes them, and alerts you when your data shows up in a breach, so fewer scammers have what they need to pose as someone you trust.
Official alerts
Frequently asked
Can I trust caller ID?
No. The FTC says caller ID can show the name of a government agency or business and still be faked. It could be anyone calling from anywhere in the world.
Will the FTC ever call and demand money?
No. The FTC says that if someone who claims to be from the FTC demands money or threatens you, that's a scammer. Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
What if I'm not sure it's a scam?
Report it anyway. The FTC says your report could help it stop scammers.
How do I check a message is real?
Contact the organization or person using contact information you looked up yourself, not the details in the message.
Sources
Something wrong or out of date? Tell us and we'll re-check it.
