Final answer:
The scam involving a fake email from an executive requesting sensitive information is known as phishing, specifically spear phishing when it targets certain individuals within an organization. Organizations must educate their workforce to combat such scams and protect against identity theft and data breaches.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of scam described in the question is known as phishing. Phishing is a fraudulent attempt, usually made through email, pretending to be from a trusted entity to obtain sensitive information such as Social Security numbers, bank account details, and passwords. In the context of an organization's executive seemingly requesting personal details from HR, this could be a targeted form of phishing known as 'spear phishing,' where the attacker personalizes the scam to increase its likelihood of success. Cybercriminals often exploit the trust between employees and their superiors to gain access to confidential information. As such, it's crucial for organizations to educate their employees about the dangers of phishing and implement stringent security protocols to protect against such attacks.
Due to the sophistication of these attacks, everyone in an organization needs to be critical readers of every communication, especially emails requesting sensitive data. Training and awareness programs, such as those conducted by universities where fake phishing emails are sent to staff members, are key to bolstering an organization's defenses against identity theft and data breaches. Identity theft, or 'True-name Fraud', occurs when a criminal uses someone else's personal information without their permission, leading to financial and reputational damage both for individuals and organizations alike.