An Idaho USDA officer is reporting a scam targeting ag businesses and individuals.
Dick Rush, state Executive Director of the Idaho Farm Service Agency, says fraudulent letters were being faxed to ag producers in Idaho and phone calls have been received in surround states asking for personal and financial information.
The spoof faxes have the USDA logo and a signature of “Frank Rutenberg” an alleged senior procurement officer. USDA says it has no record of an employee by that name and the position of Senior Procurement Officer does not exist. Rush says the documents ask the recipient for their bank information, phone numbers, tax information and a signature giving approval to perform a background check. This is a phishing scam. Do not respond to this fax or phone calls.
Rush says USDA is investigating this matter through the Office of the Inspector General. USDA first learned that the letters were being circulated on March 16.
USDA officials have been notified that additional fraudulent letters and at least one fraudulent phone call have been received by individuals in a number of states. These letters are false and in no case should a recipient respond with personal and financial information. Recipients should contact USDA at:
procurement.policy@dm.usda.gov or call 202-720-9448.
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