A Scam Alert has been issued warning Kentuckians of an email scam that relies on spoof government employee email addresses to defraud Kentuckians. Five recent reports to Attorney General Andy Beshear’s office indicate the spoof email appears to come from a current Kentucky state government employee and solicits money in order to receive a sweepstakes prize the consumer has supposedly won. Beshear said the content of the message might also include an official request for personal or financial information or seek payment for an outstanding debt. Similar instances indicate con artists are taking on the persona of the US Census Bureau, Department of Housing and Urban Development, the IRS and local law enforcement agencies. Citizens are reminded to not give out any personal information, verify by calling the government agency or employee directly to verify the email, do not pay to win a prize, and be cautious of an email request to reset a password.