The U.S. Department of Agriculture is warning vendors who wish to participate in USDA food purchase programs of a possible phishing scheme using fraudulent email messages. The fake emails look like they are solicitations for bids sent by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, which manages USDA’s food purchase programs.
A version of the fake email has the subject line “Invitation to Bid” and instructs the recipient to download an attachment, click buttons and register in their “Procurement portal.” The scam message was sent from an email address ending with “@radiantbloominc.com” and requests any questions be directed to an address ending with “@usda-govus.com,” neither of which are USDA email accounts.