Practice Areas

Impersonation fraud occurs when scammers pretend to be someone you trust. They may claim to be your bank, the police, HMRC, your GP surgery, courier services like Royal Mail or DPD, or even your phone or broadband provider.

These scams typically begin with unsolicited phone calls, text messages, or phishing emails. For example, you might receive a Royal Mail phishing email or a bank fraud text claiming suspicious activity. Scammers may already know your name, phone number, or email address (often due to a data breach), which makes their approach appear more convincing.

Depending on the type of scam, their tactics vary. They may:

Pretend to be your bank employee and ask you to transfer money to a "safe account" (sometimes via Santander fraud texts)

Claim you owe HMRC tax, such as HMRC scams or HMRC phone fraud

Request a small shipping fee to deliver a package, commonly seen in courier fraud texts impersonating Royal Mail or DPD

Once they gain your trust, their goal remains the same: to steal your money or personal information.

Common Types of Impersonation Fraud

Bank Fraud

Scammers may claim suspicious activity on your account and ask you to transfer funds to a "safe account." This is a lie — the "safe account" belongs to the fraudster. Many victims report receiving scam texts impersonating well-known banks such as Santander, Barclays, and Revolut.

Police Fraud

Fraudsters may claim to be police officers, warn you that your bank branch is under investigation, and suggest you transfer your money. These impersonation police scams or fake police calls are common and highly stressful, making it easy to fall for their lies. Police will never ask you to transfer money.

HMRC Fraud

This is one of the most common impersonation scams. Victims are told they owe tax and must pay immediately, or that they are due a tax refund and need to provide payment details. Never respond without verifying directly with HMRC.

Delivery Fraud

You may receive a message saying you need to pay a small fee to have a package delivered. Fraudsters often impersonate Royal Mail or DPD in these delivery fraud texts or phishing emails. Once you pay, they typically use your bank card details to steal hundreds or even thousands of pounds.

Service Provider Fraud

Scammers impersonate your internet or phone provider, claiming there is a technical issue. They may request remote access to your device, giving them the opportunity to steal data, install malware, and access your banking apps and passwords.