What does the creation of fake emails and websites to resemble legitimate businesses refer to?

The creation of fake emails and websites that closely mimic legitimate businesses is referred to as spoofing. This technique involves manipulating the email or website content to appear authentic, ultimately deceiving users into providing sensitive information, such as passwords or financial details. Spoofing can take various forms, including email spoofing and website spoofing, and it's commonly used in phishing scams.

The focus on simulating a genuine source is what defines spoofing, as it relies heavily on the element of deception to achieve its goal. This awareness is essential for identifying and avoiding potential online threats.

Other terms, such as identity theft, refer to stealing someone's personal information to commit fraud, which does not specifically highlight the creation of fake digital appearances. Shoulder surfing, on the other hand, describes the act of observing someone's private information, typically in a physical context rather than online deception. Telecommunication access generally refers to the ability or methods of connecting to communication networks, which does not encompass the specific act of impersonating a business online.