What is the term for fraudulently extracting credit card and financial details using emails and fake websites?

Phishing is specifically the term used to describe the fraudulent practice of attempting to acquire sensitive information, such as credit card and financial details, by impersonating a trustworthy entity in electronic communications. This often involves sending emails that appear to come from legitimate organizations, directing individuals to fake websites designed to steal their personal data. The aim is to trick recipients into entering their confidential information, which the fraudster can then misuse.

Phishing is distinguished from other forms of fraud, such as scamming, which is a broader term that encompasses various types of deceptive schemes. Fraud detection refers to the processes and technologies employed to identify and prevent fraudulent activities, rather than the act of executing fraud itself. Identity theft involves using someone else's personal information without permission, which can be a consequence of phishing but does not specifically describe the method of gathering that information. Thus, phishing is the most precise term to describe the scenario presented.