How They Make It Feel Real

The back of a figure in a headset at a cramped booth in a dim call center, lit by monitors; on the desk around him are fake props: a rubber stamp, a shiny fake badge, a stack of official-looking letterheads, a theatrical mask on a stand.

Impersonation scams feel real because scammers go to considerable lengths to appear legitimate.

Caller ID can be faked, which is called spoofing^[1], to show any number, including the real number of your bank or a government agency. Fake badge numbers, case references, and official-sounding department names add layers of credibility.

Emails arrive with real agency logos and professional-looking layouts. Some scammers use the real names of actual government employees, names that check out when the victim searches online. The payment instruction is always the tell. No government agency accepts payment by crypto ATM, gift card, or same-day wire transfer.^[1]^[2] A real IRS notice arrives by mail. A real Social Security concern gets resolved on the phone to a number you looked up yourself.