Impersonation fraud has risen
sharply, with cases increasing by 148% in just one year, according to the 2025
Identity Trends Study from the U.S.-based Identity Theft Resource Center
(ITRC). The report points to artificial intelligence (AI) as a key driver
behind the surge.
Covering the period from April 1,
2024, to March 31, 2025, the study found that impersonation scams now account
for 34% of all fraud cases. Businesses were the most targeted
victims, making up 51% of reported cases, followed by financial institutions at
21%.
AI is enabling cybercriminals to
create convincing fake websites, distribute fraudulent emails and text messages
at scale, and place deceptive ads on search engine platforms — significantly
increasing the effectiveness of these schemes.
Despite the growing threat, the study
notes that only a small percentage of victims report incidents of identity
theft or fraud to law enforcement, leaving many crimes unaddressed.
