By THE ALASKA STORY
Aug. 1, 2026 – The Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend Division is warning applicants about a fraudulent email designed to look like an official PFD communication.
According to an alert posted July 31 on the PFD Division’s official website, applicants have reported receiving emails with the subject line “IMPORTANT TAX INFORMATION.”
The messages did not come from the PFD Division, and links contained in the emails do not direct recipients to the state’s official PFD website.
Alaskans who receive the email should not click any links, open attachments or provide personal information. Instead, recipients should examine the complete sender address and hover their cursor over any link—without clicking—to see where it actually leads.
Scammers often use official-looking logos, urgent language and web addresses that closely resemble legitimate government domains. The goal may be to steal myAlaska login credentials, Social Security numbers, banking information or other personal data.
PFD applicants who need to check the status of an application or obtain tax documents should bypass email links and go directly to pfd.alaska.gov or access their account through myPFD.
Permanent Fund Dividends are taxable for federal income tax purposes, which may make the “tax information” subject line appear plausible. The Division makes 1099-MISC statements available through myPFD and publishes general PFD tax information online. It does not provide recipients with personalized tax advice.
Anyone uncertain about a message should contact the PFD Division directly using contact information listed on its official website. The Division’s main telephone number is 907-465-2326.
Suspected PFD fraud may also be reported to the Department of Revenue Criminal Investigations Unit by calling 907-500-0360, emailing dor.pfd.fraud@alaska.gov or using the state’s online fraud-reporting page.
The IRS offers similar advice for tax-themed phishing attempts: Do not reply, click links or open attachments in suspicious messages. Tax-related phishing emails may also be reported to phishing@irs.gov.
