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[fish] /fɪʃ/

verb (used without object)
1.
to try to obtain financial or other confidential information from Internet users, typically by sending an email that looks as if it is from a legitimate organization, usually a financial institution, but contains a link to a fake website that replicates the real one.
verb (used with object)
2.
to make (someone) a victim in this way:
If you’ve been phished, you should cancel your credit cards immediately.
/ˈfɪʃɪŋ/
noun
1.
the practice of using fraudulent e-mails and copies of legitimate websites to extract financial data from computer users for purposes of identity theft
noun

the practice of luring unsuspecting Internet users to a fake Web site by using authentic-looking email with the real organization’s logo, in an attempt to steal passwords, financial or personal information, or introduce a virus attack; the creation of a Web site replica for fooling unsuspecting Internet users into submitting personal or financial information or passwords
Examples

1996; as in ‘fish’ for users

See phish
Word Origin

phish, v; phisher, n
verb

to send ruse e-mail with a link to a replica of an existing web page, designed to fool users into submitting personal, financial, or password information; to defraud someone using this method; also, to create a website replica for fooling unsuspecting Internet users into submitting personal or financial information or passwords
Examples

1990s; prob fr fishing, borrowing the ph from phony
Word Origin

computing; also phishing , (n.), phisher , (n.)
n.

in the cyber scam sense, by 2000 (some sources cite usage from 1995); alteration of fishing (n.); perhaps by influence of phreak and the U.S. rock band Phish, which had been performing since 1983.

verb

To lure unsuspecting Internet users to a fake Web site by using authentic-looking e-mail with the real organization’s logo, in an attempt to steal passwords or financial or personal information or introduce a virus attack; the creation of a Web site replica for fooling unsuspecting Internet users into submitting personal or financial information or passwords (1996+)

security
(“brand spoofing”, “carding”, after “fishing”) /fishing/ Sending e-mail that claims to be from some well-known organisation, e.g. a bank, to trick the recipient into revealing information for use in identity theft. The user is told to visit a web site where they are asked to enter information such as passwords, credit card details, social security or bank account numbers. The web site usually looks like it belongs to the organisation in question and may silently redirect the user to the real web site after collecting their data.
For example, a scam started in 2003 claimed that the user’s eBay account would be suspended unless he updated his credit card information on a given web site.
(2006-01-19)