Common types of brand impersonation

  • Phishing emails that copy your branding and link to fake login or payment pages.
  • Fake websites on lookalike domains, sometimes cloned page by page.
  • Social media accounts pretending to be your customer support or executives.
  • Fake apps in third-party app stores.
  • Job and recruitment scams using your name to collect personal information or fees.

The impact on an organisation

Customers who are defrauded often blame the brand that was impersonated. Beyond direct losses, impersonation increases support costs, damages trust and can create regulatory questions if customer data is harvested. Staff are targeted too: a fake internal login page under your branding is a common route to credential theft.

How to detect and stop it

  1. Monitor new domain registrations, websites and social media for your brand names and logos.
  2. Protect your own domains with DMARC, SPF and DKIM.
  3. Give customers a clear way to report suspicious messages.
  4. Take down impersonating content quickly through registrars, hosts and platforms.

How DarkInvader helps

DarkInvader's Brand Monitoring watches for lookalike domains, logo and image misuse and social media impersonation, and Website Takedowns handles removal with registrars and hosting providers when impersonation is confirmed.

Explore Brand Monitoring

Frequently asked questions

How do I report a website impersonating my brand?

Collect evidence such as screenshots, URLs and hosting details, then report it to the registrar and hosting provider. In the UK you can also report suspicious websites to the NCSC through its reporting service.

What is the difference between brand impersonation and phishing?

Phishing is a technique for tricking people into giving up information or money. Brand impersonation is one of the main ways phishing is made convincing, by posing as a company the target trusts.

Can DMARC stop brand impersonation?

DMARC stops attackers sending email that appears to come from your exact domain. It does not stop lookalike domains or fake websites, which need monitoring and takedowns.

Related terms and reading

Sources