Scammers are posing as the PFD to phish Alaskans, and the state says don't bite

Someone is emailing Alaskans a fake message dressed up to look like it's from the Permanent Fund Dividend Division, under the subject line "IMPORTANT TAX INFORMATION." It isn't from the division, which says it didn't send it, and the links inside don't go to the real PFD site.

There's a second version going around by text. myAlaska users are getting phishing messages about a password change, and the tell is simple: myAlaska never texts or emails anyone asking them to change a password. If you get one, it's not real.

The Department of Law's advice for both is the same, and it's worth committing to memory. Don't reply, don't click any link, and if you want to check whether something's actually wrong with your account, call a number you already know is legitimate, not one from the message. The whole trick depends on getting you to use their link or their number instead of the real one.

Separately, the division is reminding anyone who moved or changed banks to file the update by Aug. 31, or October's dividend could be delayed.