Imagine you received a sudden message from an old classmate on social media. It’s an unexpected — but welcome — reconnection. After a couple exchanges, your friend shares a link to an article that you should check out. However, the link’s destination is not an article, and this person is not actually your friend. Instead, it’s a scammer using online impersonation to lure you into clicking on the link and installing malware on your device.
This is only one example of how criminal impersonation is used online against unsuspecting users. In an era of digital connection, staying aware of the latest cybercrimes and how they transpire is essential for your online safety.
What is Social Engineering?
Most scammers rely on social engineering to target victims. Social engineering is the use of emotional manipulation to lure unsuspecting users into revealing information or performing certain actions. Online impersonation plays a critical role in social engineering and, by extension, many cybercrimes in general. Scammers want to build trust quickly and use impersonation to do it.
Common Forms of Online Impersonation
Cybercriminals have many different tactics that they can use to scam victims. When it comes to impersonation, they can pretend to be police officers, celebrities, or even your best friend. The first step in staying safe from impersonation attacks is to understand the different scams that are used.
Phishing Scams
Phishing scams involve criminals posing as trustworthy institutions or individuals and tricking victims into giving away their sensitive information. It’s one of the most common cybercrimes used online and can be effective against those who are unaware.
There are two main ways that phishing scams can work. A scammer can use online impersonation to trick targets into opening a link that infects their device with malware. Alternatively, scammers may pose as a legitimate organization and lure users to a malicious page designed to capture their information.
For example, you may receive a message claiming that you’ve been locked out of your account due to suspicious behavior — urging you to click the link to restore access. The link will take you to a page that mimics a legitimate social media login page. However, this page is fraudulent and will capture your login credentials for the scammer to use.
Romance Scams
Romance scams are one of the most financially devastating cybercrimes to fall prey to. It’s when criminals create a fake profile on dating apps or social media platforms and pose as desirable individuals. These can be celebrities, influencers, or simply attractive people. The scammers message hundreds of users until someone responds, and then they lure their target into a romantic relationship.
The scammer exploits the victim’s desire for love and attention by using love bombing and constant attention. Once enough trust is built, the catfish will create convincing crises in which they urgently need money or gifts and will request it from the victim. These invented scenarios include money for medical emergencies, a family death, or money for travel funds. They will continue to ask for money until the victim denies their request or runs out of money.
Extortion Scams
Similar to romance scams, criminals will pose as desirable or trusted individuals and lure victims into correspondence. Once personal data is exchanged, they will then threaten to share the victim’s private information publicly unless they pay a certain amount of money. Extortion cybercrimes are designed to use fear, emotional distress, and anxiety to pressure the victim into compliance.
Government Impersonation Scam
This cybercrime begins with a bad actor posing as an employee from a government agency reaching out to you about a critical need to provide personal documents or a fine that needs to be paid. However, government agencies will never call, text, or message you on social media to ask for money. They will send the request in the mail to your listed address. Here are some common government agencies that scammers impersonate.
- The Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
- Social Security Administration (SSA)
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
Law Enforcement Impersonation
Law enforcement officers do not call or text people with threats of arrest. Yet, many people have claimed to receive just that. These, of course, are scammers posing as law enforcement to coerce normal citizens into paying them.
The scammer will call or text the victim, identifying themselves as law enforcement, and will usually notify the victim of a missed jury duty, court date, or an overdue fine and that they will be arrested unless payment is made immediately. They may even use fake law enforcement credentials to appear more legitimate.
Understanding Online Impersonation Laws
Not all forms of online impersonation are crimes. Depending on the intent and effect of online impersonation, it can result in fines or jail time. It may even be completely legal. Jurisdiction is also a major factor.
Texas, for example, makes it a crime to impersonate someone online without consent and with the intent to harm, defraud, or threaten. Make sure to check with a legal professional to get a better understanding of the local and federal impersonation laws in your region.
How To Protect Yourself from Impersonation Attacks Online
In the modern age, we have a multitude of ways for people to get in contact with us. Unfortunately, this also leads to cybercriminals using these contact methods to attempt to scam you. While you may not be able to completely avoid impersonation attacks, you can minimize the risk. Here are some of the best practices for protecting against online impersonation and preserving your digital safety.
- Lock Down Social Media Presence: Any information about you on social media or in public records can be used against you in an impersonation scheme. They can use personal details like location or contact information to create a convincing persona or try to infiltrate your accounts. However, making your accounts private and limiting your profile’s reach can lower the chances of bad actors discovering you.
- Strengthen Account Security: When you’re being targeted by a scammer, it’s difficult to know their intentions. That’s why securing your accounts and devices is a necessary practice. Make sure your passwords are complex and unique. Two-factor authentication is also an extra layer of protection if your login credentials are compromised.
- Use Reverse Image Search: When it comes to dating apps and social media DMs, scammers will steal images to create their fake profiles. You can use reverse image search tools to verify that their images are authentic and not from another profile.
- Be Cautious of Messages and Links: Approach any unsolicited message or link with skepticism. Compromised accounts forward the link to contacts. A hacked friend may send you the malicious link. Verify the destination of links before clicking by hovering over them and minimize interactions with strangers online.
- Report Online Impersonation: You can report online impersonation on the platform where it took place and — in some cases — to the authorities. Not every instance of impersonation is illegal, but speaking with the authorities is the best way to see what your options are.
Work With Experts to Hit Scammers Where It Hurts Most
At Digital Forensic Corp., our team has extensive experience in combating cybercrimes. We understand the tactics used by these criminals and the tools needed to handle online impersonation cases. Using metadata analysis, IP tracking, and location-tracing technology, we can follow the data trail left behind by the perpetrator, uncovering their geolocation and — in some cases — their identity.
With their anonymity removed, cybercriminals have less leverage on the victim and are more vulnerable to consequences. We can then use this exposure to pressure the criminal to abandon their scheme and leave you alone for good.
If you’re being targeted by an anonymous impersonator and want expert help, contact Digital Forensic Corp. today.
