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What is Online Brand Impersonation?
Online brand impersonations are unauthorized instances of your brand that appear online. Impersonations involve various tactics to build trust and deceive victims, utilizing popular channels to tailor and distribute scams.
Overview
Any brand can be hijacked and used as part of an online brand impersonation scam. At Allure Security, we see numerous examples of small businesses targeted by brand impersonation phishing attacks.
Fraudsters can take advantage of trust in brands, from playground equipment makers to large financial companies. Larger companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, and Google are more attractive targets for fraudsters. This is because they have many users and large amounts of data.
Brand impersonation is a risk for the target. Users can download malware, or they can reveal personal information. You can use this information to access financial resources and corporate networks. It can also cause other problems for the target.
However, brand impersonation also harms the brand used in the attack. Brand impersonation damages the trust and relationships that brands build online. This can lead to fewer customers and lower revenue. Victims often turn to brands they trust more.
Common Characteristics of
Online Brand Impersonation
E-Commerce and online accounts
Spelling and grammar mistakes
Trusted relationships
Emails and domains
Fabricated situation
Example of a Brand Impersonation Email
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