Impersonation scams accounted for nearly 60% of scam cases handled by Allstate in 2026, making them the most common scam threat of the year1.

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Impersonation scams occur when fraudsters pose as a person or organization consumers trust, then use urgency or fear to pressure them into sending money.

Impersonation scams occur when fraudsters pose as a person or organization consumers trust, then use urgency or fear to pressure them into sending money.

In these scams, scammers pose as trusted people or organizations, such as banks, law enforcement agencies, delivery companies or family members, and pressure people to send money.

Caroline Slane, senior vice president of business operations, Allstate Identity Protection:

“Scammers make fraud look real by pretending to be someone you trust and pressuring you to act before you have time to think. During the holiday rush, pause and verify an unexpected request before sending money. Allstate is focused on helping customers recognize warning signs sooner, protect their finances and recover from fraud.”

What is an impersonation scam, and how does it work?

Unlike traditional identity theft, impersonation scams typically involve victims voluntarily sending money after being deceived by someone pretending to be a trusted person or organization. Allstate calls this growing category of impersonation fraud “fake-and-take” scams because criminals establish false trust and use urgency and fear to pressure victims into sending money.

What begins as a text, email or social media message often escalates to a phone call, where the impersonation can become even more believable. Allstate reports that nearly 75% of its scam cases in 2026 involved a phone call from the scammer1.

Scammers also steer victims toward payment methods that are difficult or impossible to reverse once money has been sent. More than 90% of Allstate’s scam cases in 2026 involved payment methods such as cryptocurrency, gift cards, peer-to-peer payment apps and wire transfers1.

What scam and identity theft protection does Allstate offer?

Allstate offers two different types of protection: Allstate Scam Protection℠, available through participating employee benefits plans, and free identity theft protection available to eligible Allstate policyholders in participating states.

The industry-leading Allstate Scam Protection℠ helps participating members and their households recover money lost to scams, including certain cryptocurrency scams. The benefit provides up to $50,000 in annual reimbursement for covered losses and helps address gaps that may exist when authorized payments are not reimbursed by financial institutions.

Nearly 7.5 million eligible Allstate customers in 44 states2 also have access to free identity theft protection at no additional cost, including support from U.S.-based identity restoration specialists who help resolve fraud and guide customers through the recovery process. Allstate is the first major U.S. insurer to offer the benefit at no cost at this scale.

How can consumers protect themselves from scams this holiday season?

Allstate’s identity protection experts recommend the following tips to reduce scam risk this holiday shopping season:

  • Pause before you pay. Be wary of urgent requests for money or personal information, even when the sender appears familiar.

  • Verify requests yourself. Don’t click links in unexpected texts or emails. Instead, contact the company, bank or organization directly through its app or verified contact information.

  • Shop with trusted retailers and sellers. Shopping scams rank among the top five most common scam types reported to Allstate. Watch for deals that are too good to be true, especially from online shops on social media storefronts.

  • Research charities before donating. Donate through official websites and be cautious of donation requests for cryptocurrency, gift cards or peer-to-peer payments.

  • Treat authentication codes like passwords. Don’t share a one-time passcode with an unexpected caller, even if they say there’s a problem with your account. Contact your bank or the company directly through a trusted channel.

  • Act quickly. If you think you have been targeted, Allstate’s identity protection experts can help assess the situation and begin recovery.

For more information, go to allstate.com/identity/theft-protection. To learn more about Allstate Scam Protection℠ through participating employee benefits plans, visit allstateidentityprotection.com/plans/employee.

1Based on Allstate scam loss cases from January through September 2026.

2Available to eligible customers in: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, D.C., West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Frequently asked questions

What is an impersonation scam?

Impersonation scams occur when fraudsters pose as a person or organization consumers trust, then use urgency or fear to pressure them into sending money. Allstate data shows that nearly 60% of its scam cases to date this year involved some form of impersonation.

What is identity theft and what is a scam?

Identity theft happens when someone steals and misuses personal information, such as a Social Security number, login credentials or financial details. A criminal may use that information to access an account, open a new one, steal money or claim benefits. A scam generally involves a criminal tricking someone into voluntarily sending money or sharing information.

What should I do if I think I was scammed?

Stop communicating with the suspected scammer and do not send additional money or information. Contact your bank or the company involved through a verified channel. Allstate identity protection members can contact identity restoration specialists through the Allstate app or the Allstate website for help assessing the situation and beginning recovery. Members enrolled through employee benefits plans can get help through the Allstate identity protection app or website.

Does Allstate offer identity protection?

Since 2018, Allstate has offered identity protection to help people monitor their personal information, detect potential fraud and recover from identity theft. Its plans include monitoring and alerts, access to identity restoration specialists and additional protection features.

What is Allstate Scam Protection℠?

Allstate Scam Protection℠ is available through participating employee benefits plans. Eligible members and their households may receive up to $50,000 a year in reimbursement for covered scam losses, including certain cybercrime and cryptocurrency losses. Allstate Scam Protection also includes automated mobile scam alerts, email threat detection, robocall and text blocking and more scam-fighting features designed to help detect and block scams. Sign up during an open enrollment period or check if an employer offers this benefit here. Employers and financial institutions interested in offering scam protection to employees or customers should visit allstateidentityprotection.com/business.

What is Allstate’s free identity theft protection?

The free plan provides access to U.S.-based identity restoration specialists and alerts if an email address is exposed in a data breach or used to open a new account. Benefits are available immediately after enrollment to the primary policyholder on qualifying Allstate home, auto, renters and other eligible personal lines policies in participating states2. Eligible customers can sign up through the Allstate app or through their account on Allstate.com. Paid plans with additional features and benefits are available here.

About Allstate

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) protects people from life’s uncertainties with affordable, simple and connected protection for autos, homes, electronic devices and identities. Products are available through a broad distribution network including Allstate agents, independent agents, major retailers, online and at the workplace. Allstate has 216 million policies in force and is widely known for the slogan “You’re in Good Hands with Allstate.” For more information, visit www.allstate.com.

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