What term describes fraudulent emails used to obtain personal information for identity theft?

What term describes fraudulent emails used to obtain personal information for identity theft?

• A. Spoofing
• B. Phishing
• C. Malware
• D. Scam

Answer: (B)

This question asks you to identify a method criminals use to steal personal information through email. Fraudulent emails that try to coax you into revealing passwords, Social Security numbers, or credit card details are known as phishing. They often pose as a legitimate company or service, create a sense of urgency, and include links to fake webpages or requests for sensitive data, all aimed at identity theft. Spoofing is about making an email look like it comes from someone trusted, which is a tactic used in phishing but describes only a technique, not the full action of tricking people into giving information. Malware refers to software designed to harm or take control of systems, not the act of soliciting credentials via email. A scam is a broad term for any deceptive scheme, but phishing is the specific type of scam that uses email to steal personal information.

This question asks you to identify a method criminals use to steal personal information through email. Fraudulent emails that try to coax you into revealing passwords, Social Security numbers, or credit card details are known as phishing. They often pose as a legitimate company or service, create a sense of urgency, and include links to fake webpages or requests for sensitive data, all aimed at identity theft.

Spoofing is about making an email look like it comes from someone trusted, which is a tactic used in phishing but describes only a technique, not the full action of tricking people into giving information. Malware refers to software designed to harm or take control of systems, not the act of soliciting credentials via email. A scam is a broad term for any deceptive scheme, but phishing is the specific type of scam that uses email to steal personal information.