This week, we received an announcement from USA.gov, the US government’s official web portal, announcing scammers using their name. Please read the letter below:

USA.gov will never request your personal information

Beware: scammers are using the USA.gov name as part of an e-mail phishing scam to collect your personal information on a fake IRS website. Don’t take the bait. USA.gov will never contact you to request your personal information.

If your receive an e-mail that’s supposed to be from a government program, and it seems legitimate, do your homework:

Step 1 : Double check any offers or demands by contacting the agency mentioned in the claim

: Double check any offers or demands by contacting the agency mentioned in the claim Step 2 : Use the contact information listed in the USA.gov index of U.S. government departments and agencies to contact the agency and not the contact information provided in the e-mail

: Use the contact information listed in the USA.gov index of U.S. government departments and agencies to contact the agency and not the contact information provided in the e-mail Step 3: Forward tax related phishing e-mails to the IRS at phishing@IRS.gov

Report all other government imposter phishing e-mail scams to the Federal Trade Commission.

Please contact us if you have any questions about your taxes.