Impersonation Scams

In an increasingly digitalized world, impersonation scams have emerged as a sophisticated form of cyber fraud, exploiting the trust placed in law enforcement through psychological manipulation and technological deception. This chapter adopts a global perspective to examine the transnational nature of such scams, which often involve perpetrators operating across borders using advanced tools such as deepfakes, voice cloning, and spoofed communication platforms. The study undertakes a comparative legal analysis of international conventions, including the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime and the United Nations Convention Against Cybercrime (UNCAC), highlighting both their potential and limitations in addressing AI-enabled impersonation frauds. National legal frameworks of jurisdictions such as the United States, European Union, United Arab Emirates, and India are critically analyzed to illustrate the divergent levels of legislative preparedness and victim protection. The chapter emphasizes the need for harmonized international cooperation, robust cross-border investigative mechanisms, and the development of AI governance models that balance cybersecurity with individual rights. Towards the end, the researcher ultimately calls for the recognition of impersonation scams as a distinct international cybercrime category, advocating for stronger legal, technological, and policy-oriented responses to safeguard victims and uphold global digital trust.