Internet scheme uses Brownley to prey on the charitable MY IMMEDIATE GOAL IS TO DO EVERYTHING POS- SIBLE TO GET THE WORD OUT THAT THE E-MAIL DID NOT COME FROM ME OR ANYONE ASSOCIATED
SACRAMENTO Those looking to take advantage of altruistic souls wanting to help victims of the Southern California wildfires are using state Assemblywoman Julia Brownley’s e-mail to pry cash from unwitting victims.
Brownley, who represents Malibu and Santa Monica, issued a statement Tuesday warning people about the scam, which involves an e-mail that appears to have been sent from the assemblywoman under the auspices of the IRS, asking people to participate in a “recovery and rebuilding” program for fire victims by clicking on a Web site link and donating money.
“I was stunned and horrified by what is clearly an e-mail scam,” Brownley said. “My immediate goal is to do everything possible to get the word out that the e-mail did not come from me or anyone associated with me, and that no one should open the ‘IRS’ link.”
The fires, which erupted in Malibu, Orange and San Diego counties destroyed 2,786 structures, including more than 2,000 homes, according to the state Office of Emergency Services. Seven people died and about 500,000 were ordered to evacuate their homes.
Of the roughly three dozen fires that have burned more than half a million acres, seven were still not contained as of deadline Tuesday. Four fires were nearly under control: In San Diego County, the Witch fire was 95 percent contained; in San Bernardino County, the Slide fire 90 percent and Grass Valley fire 95 percent; and in Los Angeles County, the Ranch fire 97 percent, according to reports.
Brownley said she first caught wind of the e-mail scam when a concerned resident of Delhi, New York, forwarded the bogus e-mail to her late Monday evening.
As the assemblywoman representing Malibu and the Santa Monican Mountains Recreational Area, Brownley said she had been asked by Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez to give a brief radio address last weekend on the wildfires, and to provide information on how people could help and donate via the Assembly Web site. The Web address was transcribed and posted on the Assembly’s Democratic Caucus Web site.
The bogus e-mail now circulating has taken the original Internet post and deleted the Assembly Web site, replacing it with a phony Web address that appears to go to an IRS help site that does not exist.
Brownley said an initial investigation has found that the origin of the e-mail appears to be out of the U.S.
“It is another ugly side to the tragedy... where some anonymous person is attempting to exploit the generosity of Americans to support one another in a time of crisis for personal gain and pure greed,” Brownley said.
The FBI issued a warning last week about scams following a disaster, telling the public to protect themselves by not responding to SPAM e-mail and only contribute to legitimate organizations. Those looking to donate should always ask for identification from those soliciting, and are warned never to give out personal or financial information.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 31, 2007. Read the original PDF.