Q.Consider the following scenario and answer the questions which follow: "A student is expected to write a research paper on a topic. The student had a friend who took a similar class five years ago. The student asks his older friend for a copy of his paper and then takes the paper and submits the entire paper as his own research work."

Priya's experience is a textbook case of one of the most common and damaging cybercrimes today: phishing. The name itself is a play on "fishing" — criminals cast out bait (a fake email) and wait for victims to bite. But unlike the innocent hobby, phishing is a deliberate, calculated attack on your financial security and personal data.

Here's what happened. Priya received an email that looked official, complete with her bank's logo, formal language, and an urgent request to "update" or "verify" her account information. The email contained a link that, when clicked, took her to a website designed to mimic her bank's login page. The moment she entered her username, password, or other sensitive details, those credentials were captured by the attacker. Armed with this information, the fraudster accessed her real bank account and debited money.

The hallmark of phishing is impersonation. Cybercriminals disguise themselves as trustworthy entities — banks, e-commerce sites, government agencies, even colleagues or friends. They exploit trust and urgency ("Your account will be locked unless you act now!") to bypass your natural caution. The goal is always the same: to trick you into revealing confidential information that can be used for financial theft or identity fraud.

Let's quickly rule out the other options:

• Cyber stalking involves persistent online harassment or monitoring of a person, often to instill fear or exert control. It has nothing to do with financial fraud through fake emails.
• Fishing is simply the correct spelling of the recreational activity; it's not a cybercrime term.
• Cyber bullying refers to using digital platforms to intimidate, threaten, or humiliate someone, typically in social or school contexts. Again, unrelated to financial deception.