Impersonation scam
identity impersonation fraud · trusted-contact scam
What it means
The impersonation can happen through a call, text, email, social account, or video. AI makes the voice, face, and writing style more convincing, while spoofed numbers and copied profile photos add a false sense of confirmation.
How to protect yourself
- Start verification from contact details you already trust.
- Do not disclose one-time codes or passwords in an incoming conversation.
- Use the same private verification rule for every channel.
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Related terms
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Cite this page
Impersonation scam — Trust Onion, September 17, 2026. https://trustonion.io/glossary/impersonation-scam