What is the term for sending fraudulent emails that appear to be from a legitimate source to steal personal information?

The term for sending fraudulent emails that appear to be from a legitimate source in order to steal personal information is known as phishing. Phishing is a social engineering tactic where attackers impersonate legitimate organizations, often using emails that closely resemble genuine communications, to trick individuals into providing sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords, or credit card details.

Phishing attacks exploit the trust that users have in known entities, making it crucial for individuals to verify the authenticity of requests for personal information, especially when such requests come via email. The effectiveness of phishing lies in its ability to deceive the recipient into believing that they are acting upon a legitimate request, leading to potentially severe consequences if they fall victim to these schemes. Understanding this definition is essential for recognizing and combating these types of cyber threats.