Sample Phishing Email:

It may be from the government, not just ours.

Phool School Rule:

When in doubt, do an internet search.

If you're unsure about an email or message from the government, do an internet search. Whether it's legit or a scam, chances are you're not the first person to get it.

Simply copy distinctive phrases from the email. Most likely someone else had the same suspicion and has lived to post about it.

In this example, if you search for the scariest line, "we have decided to suspend your SSN," one of the first results is a page from the actual Federal Trade Commission stating that "Your Social Security number isn’t suspended. Ever."

https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2018/09/your-social-security-number-isnt-suspended-ever

Scammers use the internet to find their victims. You should use the internet to fight back.