The terms spoofing and Phishing refer to a bait and switch game that scammers play with unsuspecting Internet users in order to steal the user's personal and account information.
Spoofing
A spoof refers to a hoax or imitation, as a verb it means to deceive. A spoofed email is a deception, as it appears to have come from a trusted source. The individual performing the spoof will use an email address similar to that of a trusted source, or they will change the header information of the email so that it appears as though the trusted source is the sender. A spoofed website is an imitation site that uses the exact graphics, colors and layout from the trusted site it is trying to replicate.
Phishing
In the computer world, Phishing is the act of seeking information in a sly or indirect way. Often a spoofed email is used as bait to lure someone to an imitation of a legitimate site. If they fall for the bait and believe the fake Web page to be authentic then the phishing expedition has been a success.
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