London (Peniaze24) – Impersonation-based fraud is rapidly becoming one of the most lucrative sources of income for cybercriminals. Like many scams, its goal is to trick victims into sending money or providing personal and financial information, according to a report by security company Eset.
“Our world is becoming increasingly impersonal as it shifts more towards digital technologies. Without seeing the person or company on the other side of an email, social media message, or SMS, it’s easier for scammers to pretend to be someone else. This is known as impersonation,” the company explained.
Cybercriminals can sell the stolen data on the dark web or use it for identity theft themselves. The most obvious form of impersonation, according to Eset, is phishing. “The scammer contacts you, pretending to be a trustworthy entity, and then requests money or information,” the company elaborated.
However, other forms of this scam are also prevalent, with fake social media accounts becoming a growing problem. “These accounts are used to spread fraudulent links and offers that seem too good to be true,” Eset added, noting that fake mobile apps posing as legitimate software are also popular. These apps aim to steal personal data, bombard victims’ screens with ads, or sign them up for premium-priced services.
“Impersonation scams are continually evolving. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), scammers are using more channels and techniques, so a fake Amazon employee might redirect you to a non-existent bank or even to a bogus FBI or FTC agent offering phony support,” the company concluded.
Key Words: Eset, cybersecurity, impersonation fraud, phishing, fake accounts, cybercrime.
