Impersonation Scams Quiz

Impersonation scams occur when somebody pretends to be a well-known organization or person to steal your money or personal information. Scammers impersonate government agencies, well-known businesses, financial brokers, pet breeders, celebrities, and more. Do you have the information you need to protect yourself from impersonation scams? Take our quiz!

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1. You receive an unsolicited text from a streaming service you use saying that your password has been compromised. They provide a link for you to change it. You should:

Delete the text Reply to the text to confirm that you really need to change your password Follow the link and change your password

Correct! This is a phishing attempt. Verify your account security and never click on an unknown or unsolicited link.

Incorrect. Never reply directly to an unsolicited text. If you think it may be real, go directly to your account.

2. Which are not commonly impersonated by scammers?

Family members Trusted businesses Family dog Charities Government agencies

Unfortunately, impersonating family members is an effective way for scammers to gain your trust.

Be careful. Scammers can misuse legitimate company logos and set up real looking websites.

Correct! Scammers will try to impersonate all types of people and organizations; however, Fido is secure ...for now.

It’s a shame, but scammers like to impersonate charities. Always check out an organization before giving money. Give.org is a great place to start.

Scammers love to impersonate government agencies like Social Security Administration, the IRS, even the U.S. Postal Service. Remember, these agencies will never call or email you asking for money. If you have a doubt, call the number on your statement or the agency’s official website.

3. True or False: If you receive a message from a coworker asking for your network password, you should not provide it unless they say it is an emergency.

True False

Sorry, incorrect. Never share your password with anyone, especially if you cannot confirm their identity.

Correct. Always confirm a sender’s identity and never share your password.

Researching a third-party source will help you determine if the URL was reported as a fake website. But it’s important to check other things as well.]

Correct! Before you purchase something from a new website that is not well known, take time to do your research to determine it is legitimate.

4. You have made a new friend online and you’re feeling good about the relationship. It may even become romantic. Which of the following are signs that your online friend is really a scammer?

They tell you that they love you very quickly They work overseas and an emergency has occurred. They need money. They want to send you a parcel and ask for a copy of your driver's license, your full legal name, and your date of birth for paperwork. They begin to offer you an opportunity to invest in cryptocurrencies. All of the above

Be careful! It’s great to fall in love, but when someone you just met professes their love too quickly, it may be a scam

Watch out for this one. It’s a common tactic of romance scammers. They rely on a person wanting to offer help. However, it is usually a scam.

Be very suspicious of this one. Never share your personal information, especially with someone you just met or have not met in person.

Over the past few years, romance scammers have begun urging their targets to get in on cryptocurrencies, bilking people out of their good money.

Correct

5. A pop-up on your computer tells you there is a major issue. Tech support people from a well-known technology company reach out and offer to help you, but they require immediate payment. You should:

Give them access to your computer so they can fix your computer as soon as possible. Pay them so they can help you regain access to your computer. Hang up immediately and reach out to somebody else to check your computer and determine if malware or spyware has been uploaded.

Incorrect. The person on the phone is likely a scammer looking to steal your money and/or put malware/spyware on your computer. Shut down the computer, hang up the phone, and reach out directly to the appropriate tech support department.

Incorrect. The person is likely a scammer. Do not pay them money to help. Reach out directly to the appropriate tech support department.

Correct. This is likely a scam. Disengage the people who reached out and directly contact a legitimate person who can help.

LEARN MORE: IDENTIFY IMPERSONATION SCAMS

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