Definition
Impersonation scam (Impersonation Scams)
Messages that impersonate a trusted party to trick you into revealing credentials or money.
An impersonation scam (commonly called impersonation scam) is a message — email, text, or call — that pretends to come from a bank, service, or colleague to lure you into entering a password, approving a login, or sending money. Modern versions are highly tailored and convincing.
Why it matters: these scams target you, not your software, so technical defenses alone are not enough. Verify requests through a separate channel, and let a password manager refuse to autofill on look-alike sites.
Related terms
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) · Password Manager · Risk signal Model