Impostors

An impostor, or imposter, is a person who pretends to be someone else or assumes a false identity in order to deceive others or gain advantages. Impostors can operate in person, online, or through forged documents, and they may target individuals, organizations, or institutions. The term carries a mainly negative connotation because deceit and harm are common features, although impersonation can occur in legitimate contexts such as acting or performances with consent.

Common forms include identity theft, fraud, disguise, or impersonation of officials or other trusted figures. Criminal impostors use misrepresentation, social engineering, fake documents, or stolen credentials. Digital methods include phishing, impersonation over the phone or video calls, and the use of deepfakes to deceive. In some cases, impostors imitate public figures in scams or social engineering campaigns.

Motive is usually financial gain, access to restricted information or spaces, evading liability, or gaining social status. Methods combine deception with logistics such as forged IDs, pretexts, or compromised accounts.

Consequences can be severe for victims, including financial loss, damaged reputations, and safety risks. Organizations may incur security breaches, regulatory penalties, and legal liability. Many jurisdictions criminalize impersonation, fraud, forgery, and identity theft, with penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment.

Impostor syndrome is a separate concept referring to a pattern of self-doubt and perceived fraudulence experienced by some people after success. The spelling impostor and imposter are both accepted variants of the same term.