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Imposter scam

An imposter scam is any fraud in which the criminal masquerades as a trusted person or organization, a bank, government agency, well-known company, tech-support desk, or even a family member, to win your trust and pull money or personal information out of you. Impersonation runs as a common thread through many scam types, from bank fraud alerts to grandparent emergencies, because a familiar name quietly lowers your guard.

How we check this: Written and reviewed by the Hunch team; recognition signs reflect how the FTC/FBI describe this scam. · Last reviewed: 2026-08

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Example

You get a call, text, or email that appears to be from your bank's fraud department, a government office, or a delivery service. The 'representative' knows just enough about you to sound credible and asks you to confirm details, move money to a 'safe account,' or pay a fee to resolve an urgent problem.

How to recognize it

  • The contact claims to be a trusted institution or person but reaches you unexpectedly.
  • Caller ID, sender name, or email domain looks close to the real one but is subtly off.
  • You're pressured to act immediately and to keep the matter private.
  • They ask you to confirm passwords, codes, or account details, or to move money to a 'safe' account.

How Hunch flags it

Hunch keys on signal categories central to impersonation: display-name or lookalike-domain mismatches, manufactured urgency, and requests for credentials, codes, or payment that a genuine institution wouldn't make this way.

FAQ

How can I tell if someone is impersonating my bank?

Hang up and call the number on the back of your card or the bank's official website. Real banks won't ask you to move money to a 'safe account,' share full passwords, or read back one-time codes.

What's the difference between an imposter scam and phishing?

Phishing is a delivery method, deceptive messages that harvest data. An imposter scam is the broader tactic of pretending to be someone trusted, which can happen by phone, text, email, or in person.

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