What type of email fraud uses a fake website to solicit personal information?

Phishing is a type of email fraud that specifically involves the creation of fake websites designed to deceive individuals into providing personal information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, or social security numbers. These counterfeit websites often closely resemble legitimate ones, making it easy for unsuspecting users to be misled into entering their sensitive information.

The key aspect of phishing is the fraudulent solicitation conducted through emails that contain links directing users to these malicious sites. The deceptive practice relies on the aura of legitimacy to trick individuals, thereby compromising their personal data.

In contrast, spoofing refers to the act of disguising communication from an unknown source as being from a known, trusted source, while spam involves unsolicited and often irrelevant messages typically sent in bulk. Hacking is a broader term encompassing unauthorized access to computer systems and may not specifically relate to the act of soliciting information through fraudulent means like phishing does.