The email directing you to a phony website that resembles your mortgage company's site is an example of phishing.
1) Phishing is a type of cyber attack where scammers impersonate legitimate organizations to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information such as passwords, usernames, or financial details. In this scenario, the email is trying to deceive you by leading you to a fake website that looks real, aiming to steal your personal data.
2) Pop-ups are small windows that appear on top of web content, usually to promote something, request feedback, or offer additional information. They are not the same as the deceptive email leading to a fake website.
3) Spam refers to unsolicited or unwanted emails, often promoting products, services, or containing malicious links. While spam emails can sometimes be used as part of a phishing attack, the key difference here is the attempt to mimic a legitimate website to deceive you.
4) Pharming is a more advanced form of phishing where cybercriminals redirect website traffic to a fake site without the user's knowledge. Although related, the initial email directing you to the fraudulent website aligns more closely with traditional phishing tactics.
In summary, the email directing you to a fake mortgage company website is a phishing attempt, aiming to trick you into divulging confidential information by masquerading as a trusted entity. It is essential to be cautious of such tactics and verify the authenticity of websites and emails before sharing any personal data.
