U.S. Treasury - Press Releases - All
All Press Releases

• Treasury Warns Public About E-Mail Scams
  

  December 14, 2007
  hp737

  Treasury Warns Public About E-Mail Scams

  Washington, DC –Treasury has become aware of phony e-mail messages claiming to come from Department officials. For example, these messages, which are unsolicited by the recipients, falsely assert that Treasury is seeking to transfer funds to the recipient of the e-mail or accuse the recipient of tax avoidance or money laundering. These e-mails may request sensitive information from the recipient, supposedly in order to process the bogus transaction.

  These messages are a hoax designed to trick victims into revealing confidential information. Treasury recommends that recipients not respond to such messages.

  Treasury does not send unsolicited requests and does not seek personal or financial information from members of the public by e-mail. Anyone who receives an email of this nature should file a complaint at www.ic3.gov.

  E-mail users should be wary of any unsolicited messages that purport to come from U.S. Government agencies asking them to provide sensitive personal information. The transmission of phony e-mail messages requesting confidential information is a practice known as "phishing." The perpetrator of a "phishing" scam attempts to trick the victim into revealing confidential information, which then is used for purposes of identity theft or other crimes.

  Members of the public can learn more about protecting themselves from "phishing" and other internet-based threats at OnGuardOnline.gov, a web site created by the Department of Justice in partnership with other federal agencies and the technology industry to help stay safe online.

  Anyone receiving a solicitation purporting to be from, or otherwise involving the Internal Revenue Service, may report it to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at:

  Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration Hotline
  P.O. Box 589 Ben Franklin Station
  Washington, DC 20044-0589
  Email: Complaints@tigta.treas.gov
  Phone: 1-800-366-4484
  Fax: 202-927-7018

  Solicitations purporting to be from, or otherwise involving the Department or the Secretary of the Treasury, may be reported it to the Treasury Office of Inspector General at:

  Treasury Hotline
  Office of Inspector General
  1500 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
  Washington, D.C. 20220
  Email: Hotline@oig.treas.gov  
  Phone: 1-800-359-3898
  Fax: 202-927-5799

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• Paulson Statement on Signing of Peru Free Trade Agreement Act
  

  December 14, 2007
  HP-736

  Paulson Statement on Signing of Peru Free Trade Agreement Act

  Washington, DC--Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr. today issued the following statement following the President's signing of H.R. 3688, the United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act with Peru's President Alan Garcia:

  "Today's signing demonstrates the United States' continued commitment to reducing trade barriers and spreading prosperity in the Americas. Free trade agreements are a proven way to stimulate U.S. exports, create jobs and usher in foreign investment and both of our countries will benefit from this important bipartisan accomplishment. U.S. businesses and exporters will gain access to Peru's markets while Peru will continue its economic growth and stability with an expanded trade relationship with the largest market in the world.

  I look forward to working with Congress to secure passage of the other important pending free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea."

• Paulson Statement on IDA Replenishment
  

  December 14, 2007
  HP-735

  Paulson Statement on IDA Replenishment

  Washington, DC--Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr. today issued the following statement on the announcement of the U.S. pledge to the International Development Association (IDA):

  "Today's announcement demonstrates the United States' strong commitment to the poorest countries in the world and to IDA. I'd like to thank World Bank President Robert Zoellick for his leadership and the donor community for their contributions and commitment to fighting poverty. Our pledge of $3.7 billion is a 30 percent increase and represents the largest three-year increase since the Carter administration and helps finance President Bush's debt relief initiative for the poorest countries. The IDA15 replenishment furthers the World Bank's commitment to effective engagement in fragile states and improving results on the ground. I look forward to working with Congress to fund these commitments and I urge them to meet the President's budget request for paying back our arrears."

   

• Paulson to Discuss Efforts to Reduce Foreclosures
  

  December 14, 2007
  HP-734

  UPDATE: Secretary Paulson to Visit Florida, Missouri, California to Discuss the Administration’s Efforts to Reduce Foreclosures

  Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr. will travel to Orlando, Kansas City, Stockton, Calif. and Los Angeles next week to discuss the Administration's efforts to address mortgage market issues and help families struggling with their mortgage avoid foreclosure.

  Paulson will meet with local officials, community leaders, and representatives from local businesses to discuss what has been proposed and what can be done to help more people. Last week Paulson joined President Bush and HUD Secretary Jackson to commend a private sector effort to streamline the refinancing and modification process and deliver quicker help to homeowners facing foreclosure. (For more information on this announcement go to: Treasury Department Public Engagements Schedule
  

  December 14, 2007
  PublicSchedule

  Public Schedule

  FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 15 – DECEMBER 21

  
  Monday, December 17, 2007, 2:45 p.m. EST
  Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr.
  Discussion on Housing
  East Orange Community Center
  12050 East Colonial Drive
  Orlando, Fla.
  Note: Media should arrive by 2:30 p.m.

  Tuesday, December 18, 2007, 10:00 a.m. CST
  Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr.
  Discussion on Housing
  Bruce Watkins Cultural Heritage Center and Museum
  3700 Blue Parkway
  Kansas City, Mo.

  Tuesday, December 18, 2007, 1:30 p.m. PST
  Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr.
  Discussion on Housing
  Van Buskirk Community Center
  734 Houston Avenue
  Stockton, Calif.

  Wednesday, December 19, 2007, 9:30 a.m. PST
  Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr.
  Roundtable on Trade
  World Trade Center
  Investment Room 1&2
  1 World Trade Center
  Long Beach, Calif.

  
  
   

• Fact Sheet: Third Meeting of the US-China SED
  

  December 13, 2007
  hp-733

  U.S. Fact Sheet:
  The Third Cabinet-Level Meeting of the U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue
  December 13, 2007, Beijing

  The United States and China today concluded the third Cabinet-level meeting of the Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED).  President George W. Bush and President Hu Jintao established the SED to create a Cabinet-level forum to articulate long-term objectives while managing short-term challenges in our economic relationship.  During the meeting held December 12 and 13, 2007 at G