Impersonation fraud occurs when criminals pretend to be
someone else to gain your trust and steal money or personal
information.
Scammers may call, email, text, or message you on social
media, pretending to be from your bank, a government
department, your employer, or a well-known business.
The goal of impersonation fraud is to trick you into making
a payment, transferring money, or handing over personal
details that they can use to access your bank account or
commit identity theft.
These scams often feel very convincing because fraudsters
use tactics like spoofing phone numbers, fake email
addresses, and urgent messages to create a sense of panic.
If someone unexpectedly contacts you and asks for money or
personal details, always be cautious.
Legitimate organisations will never pressure you into making
urgent payments or sharing private information over the
phone or via email.
Impersonation scams come in many forms, and fraudsters constantly adapt their methods to appear more convincing. Below are some of the most common types of impersonation fraud.
Scammers often pose as bank representatives, claiming your
account is at risk and urging you to transfer money to a
“safe account”. They may call from a spoofed phone number
that looks like your bank’s, making the scam feel more
legitimate.
Victims are often told that their account has been
compromised and that the only way to protect their money is
to move it elsewhere—into the scammer’s account.
Santander, Lloyds, HSBC, and other UK banks have repeatedly
warned customers that they never ask for money to be
transferred to another account. If you get a call like this,
hang up immediately and contact your bank directly using the
number on their official website.