Imitative electronic deception refers to the act of using technology to deceive individuals by imitating a person or organization. Synonyms for imitative electronic deception include spoofing, fake identity creation, phishing, and cyber impersonation. Spoofing is the act of disguising a communication from an unknown source as being from a known, trusted source. Fake identity creation refers to the use of stolen or fabricated personal information to create a fake entity. Phishing is the act of sending fraudulent emails or text messages that appear to be from a legitimate source in order to lure the recipient into providing sensitive information. Cyber impersonation is the act of using someone's identity to deceive others online. These synonyms all refer to the use of technology to deceive and harm others.