What it looks like
A social media account using a real trader's or influencer's name and photos; a website copying a genuine broker's branding down to the logo and layout; a "customer support" account replying to public complaints with a link to a fake site.
Why it works
Impersonation borrows trust that took someone else years to build. A copied logo or a familiar name lowers your guard faster than any cold pitch from an unknown source could.
How to check
Go to the real entity directly - type the known domain yourself rather than clicking a link, and check official verified account badges on social platforms rather than trusting a display name or photo. For brokers specifically, verify on the regulator's own register rather than the website you were sent to.
A specific pattern to watch for
Screenshots of "trading results" or account balances shared as proof - these are trivial to fabricate and prove nothing about a platform's legitimacy on their own.