What are Imposter Scams, and How Can You Protect Yourself from Them?

Costumes and disguises can be all the rage in October with the Halloween season upon us. But there are some individuals out there who prefer to be masked year-round, and their intentions are much scarier than merely trick-or-treating. These individuals are known as imposters, and there are some out there who may try and trick you into giving them money, personal information, or other valuable assets.

But what exactly is an imposter scam, and how can you tell the difference between an imposter and a trusted institution, like your credit union or bank? In this blog, we'll guide you through the tell-tale signs of imposter scams, as well as steps you can take to protect yourself.

1. What is an Imposter Scam?

An imposter scam involves a criminal contacting you and pretending to be an individual or an organization you trust. The imposter may claim to be a distant relative, a potential romantic partner, or claim to be calling from an organization like:

• Your bank, credit union, or other financial institution
• A government office, like Social Security or the IRS
• A technical support department

A phone call is one of the most common methods an imposter will use when trying to scam you, but they may enlist other methods as well. These could include an email with a suspicious link or attachment, a text message, or a direct message through a social media platform like Facebook or Instagram.

The imposter could also be angling to steal a variety of things from you, including:

• Money, or details like your bank account numbers or PIN
• Personal information, such as your Social Security number or account passwords
• A code to sign into any apps or devices you may use, like a smartphone or laptop (known as remote access)

It's crucial to remember that the imposter is trying to steal these things simply by gaining your trust. If you feel pressured or uncomfortable at any point, trust your instincts and end the communication immediately.

2. Different Types of Imposter Scams

There's not a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to imposter scams. These individuals are always evolving and changing their methods. Some of the most common imposter scams include:

Government Agencies and Law Enforcement

The individual making contact claims to be from an organization like the IRS or Social Security office. They may claim that you owe money to the government, your Social Security benefits could end unless you pay a fee, or you need to pay a fine for missing a mandatory service like jury duty.

Business

The imposter may claim to be from a reputable company, like Amazon or Best Buy, and present you with fake offers or refunds to try and steal your personal information. Many scams may also claim you won a fake prize and require you to give information to "claim" it.

Financial Institutions

Banks and credit unions are unfortunately common targets for imposters. You may receive a call from an individual claiming to be from your financial institution and wanting information like your account number or PIN. They may claim your money is in danger, and you need to work with them to protect yourself.

Romance Scams

Sadly, there are some scammers out there who will pretend to have romantic interest in their targets. These conversations may play out over a slightly longer period, and the individual may ask you to send them money or make a wire transfer. They may say they needs funds to come out to visit you or for something like a sudden medical emergency.

3. Signs of an Imposter Scam

Scammers are always seeking new methods and ways to steal your information. Here are some of the most common warning signs that you may be falling victim to an imposter scam:

• The scammer may provide you with the badge number, or in some cases, an actual name of a true government employee.
• You feel pressured and increasingly uneasy by the requests the scammer makes.
• The scammer asks you to keep the communication a secret and not tell anyone else.

Additionally, if you receive a phone call from a scammer, be wary of the phone number they use. The individual may be spoofing a number or calling from one that may look real or legitimate to you. For instance, it may have the appropriate area code for your part of the country.

4. How to Protect Yourself from Imposter Scams

While imposter scams can be scary, there are steps you can take to protect yourself and your assets. Some of the most basic steps you can follow include:

• Taking a breath and pausing to truly think over the nature and context of the call.
• Ask questions to clarify the identity of the caller (i.e. "What organization are you calling from?"). It's a good idea to jot this down and then call the organization at a phone number you know and trust.
• If the caller claims to be a relative, call your actual family members to see if they are truly in danger or need assistance.
• Avoid clicking any suspicious links or attachments in emails or text messages.
• Check the email address of the sender to see if it looks like a legitimate email address.

5. Added Security for Apple Device Users

Individuals who use Apple devices, such as an iPhone or iPad, can add extra security to their device courtesy of Impersonation Risk Detection. This new feature, which requires the Apple device to run on iOS 27, can post notifications and warnings if it senses the user is facing a scam.

The new Impersonation Risk Detection feature works by running a risk assessment on your device and Apple account for signs of an active scam. These results can then be shared with the respective app that's being targeted by a scammer. The risk is assessed on three levels ranging from unknown to high, and actions like disabling a security feature or resetting a password could be red flags.

You can enable Impersonation Risk Detection on your Apple device by clicking into the Settings app and then clicking into Privacy & Security. From here, you should scroll down and see a toggle to turn on Impersonation Risk Detection. You should receive a pop-up asking you to share this with app developers, and you should click 'Yes' to allow this. Remember, your Apple device will need to run on iOS 27 for access to this feature.