Digital Deception: The Lookalike Threat

April 10, 2025 | 2 min read

Elia Okulovski

Cyber Threat Intelligence Analyst

Elia Okulovski

Among the many threats of fraud and theft that organizations face, lookalike domains have emerged as a significant threat to online security and trust-based relationships.

These domains, cleverly crafted to mimic legitimate websites, pose a serious risk to the security and trust inherent in online communications. Our recently published research report, "Digital Deception: How Lookalike Domains Facilitate Email Impersonation" delves into this issue, highlighting the urgency of addressing the threat these domains present. 

Understanding Lookalike Domains

Lookalike domains are designed with subtle alterations that make them visually similar to authentic domains, fooling the unsuspecting eye. Common tactics include replacing characters (such as an "o" with a "0"), rearranging letters, or using different top-level domains (TLDs) to create nearly identical replicas of legitimate sites, such as .net instead of .com. These deceptive domains are particularly challenging to detect, posing a significant threat not only to typical targets like financial institutions, but also to sectors such as legal services, insurance, and construction. 

Why Lookalike Domains are a Threat

The convincing resemblance crafted by threat actors enables them to conduct phishing, social engineering attacks, and financial fraud through email-based scams. These emails appear to originate from trusted sources, exploiting the trust and familiarity of recipients. Our research underscores the urgent need for vigilance and comprehensive security measures across industries to counteract these deceptive tactics used by cybercriminals.

Lookalike cases reported per month 2025

Case Study: Things Are Not Always as They Appear

In a recent cybersecurity incident, attackers registered a lookalike domain with a minor alteration to closely resemble the legitimate domain of a financial institution. The threat actors used this domain to set up email servers and crafted emails designed to deceive recipients into believing they were from a trusted source within the organization. 

The email, purportedly from an analyst at a financial institution, was carefully constructed to appear legitimate. It featured a subject line referencing a substantial financial transaction and was addressed to multiple recipients, mimicking typical business communication. The sender's name and contact details were fabricated to match those of an actual employee, adding an additional layer of credibility. The email contained an attachment, which was intended to provide "updated account details" and prompt the recipient to process a payment. 

Case study lookalike

The threat actor's strategy relied on exploiting familiar communication patterns and institutional trust to facilitate unauthorized access to accounts. By presenting a convincing scenario related to financial transactions, the attackers attempted to bypass usual checks and persuade recipients to engage with the email content. The use of a lookalike domain served to reinforce the authenticity of the request, increasing the likelihood of capturing sensitive information. 

While this example highlights the threat for a financial institution, we see similar threats targeting other sectors.  

The threat posed by lookalike domains is a growing concern that demands immediate attention. These deceptive domains enable a range of scams across various sectors, underscoring the need for sophisticated detection and proactive security strategies. BlueVoyant is committed to empowering organizations with advanced tools and techniques to address these threats effectively. 

To deepen your understanding of this critical issue and learn how to protect your digital environment, download our new report on lookalike domains. 

Download the report

Related Reading