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phisher

phisher

1 7.2
A person who tricks people online to get their personal or bank details
  • noun
  • /ˈfɪʃər/
  • Texting
translation icon : phisher
  • Phishers today might pose as a relief agency asking for help with a recent natural disaster or as a random person appealing to prurient interests, as in, say, seeing Britney Spears naked.
  • phishers and spammers

Examples

  • She realized too late that the message was from a phisher trying to steal her credit card information.

  • That is exactly the sort of thing that phishers ask.

    Blog text (21)
  • By studying these behavioral elements, phishers know that they can increase their success rate.

    Blog text (24)
  • Thus, rather than risk being traced, a phisher could opt to sell stolen information to others who are less risk-averse.

    Academic text (2012)
  • The spammers and phishers send those out wholesale, hoping for people to bite.

    Blog text (30)
  • We will also likely see increased spear-phishing and whaling attacks, as phishers look for vulnerable targets with valuable information.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Increasingly, phishers are using security notifications and alerts in their lures.

    Blog text (24)
  • A phisher sent an email posing as a bank to trick customers into revealing their passwords.

  • Many people fell victim to a phisher who created a fake website to collect personal details.

Synonyms

fraud
vsphisher
  • Offensive
160 4.4

A person who pretends to be something they are not to trick others

narrows this to online misrepresentation aimed at stealing personal information
impostor
vsphisher
  • UK
50 5.1

A person who pretends to be someone else to trick people

does the same but focuses on online tricks to obtain private data
imposter
vsphisher
  • US
41 5.1

A person who pretends to be someone else to trick people and get money or other benefits

is similar but specifically uses online pretence to steal information
con artist
vsphisher
40 4.8

A person who tricks people by gaining their trust to take their money or valuables

does this mainly through online messages pretending to be trusted contacts
scammer
vsphisher
  • NSFW
20 4.0

A person who tricks others to take their money or things

often uses online impersonation to obtain financial or personal details
trickster
vsphisher
20 6.0

A person who lies to or cheats others, often to have fun

is more harmful and focused on online identity fraud for information
faker
vsphisher
  • Offensive
15 5.2

A person who pretends to be someone else or lies to trick people

focuses specifically on online false identities to collect personal information
swindler
vsphisher
15 5.4

A person who tricks people to take their money

often works through online false identities to extract sensitive information
hoaxer
vsphisher
4 6.7

A person who tricks people into believing something false for fun or attention

is more malicious and uses online impersonation to steal private data
spoofer
vsphisher
  • Texting
9.0

A person or device that pretends to be something else to deceive people

targets online identity deception specifically to get personal or financial information
flimflammer
vsphisher
  • Archaic
9.9

A person who cheats others with tricks or fake deals

is more specialized, using online impersonation to get private data
shammer
vsphisher
9.6

A person who pretends to be someone else to trick people

targets online deception aimed at extracting sensitive or financial details
magsman
vsphisher
  • Archaic
9.9

A person who tricks others using clever talk to take their money

applies that deception mainly online, aiming to obtain personal or financial information

Antonyms

129 2.8

A person who defends and cares for another person or thing

How Deceptive

swindler
15 5.4
con artist
40 4.8
scammer
  • NSFW
20 4.0
phisher
  • Texting
1 7.2
prankster
24 4.1

Surface Forms

phisher singular
phishers plural

Morphology

phisher = phish (transparent) = phish + er

Formed by the regular agentive suffix '-er' added to the verb 'phish'; the meaning 'one who phishes' follows standard English word-formation rules.

Etymology

The word phisher comes from fishing: scammers send fake messages as 'bait' to 'catch' people's passwords or bank details. The spelling with ph- came from early internet slang, so a phisher is someone who 'fishes' for private information online.