News

Actions

Kalamazoo officials warn of bogus ‘water testing’ letter sent to residents

Posted at 1:25 PM, Apr 07, 2015
and last updated 2015-04-07 13:25:39-04
Kalamazoo fake water survey

Fake Kalamazoo water survey sent to residents.

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Kalamazoo officials are investigating a hoax involving a water testing letter and questionnaire sent to several city residents.

The sender used the city’s official logo to send a bogus letter about tap water testing, telling people they were selected at random to participate in the survey.

The fake letter warns that the city will start testing “alternative methods of water purification.”

Participants were asked to take daily stool and urine samples and report how they feel, and even asked to have a death certificate submitted for anyone who dies participating in the survey.

Read the full letter

The letter may be an elaborate April Fools’ Day prank, but Kalamazoo city officials do not find it funny.

They aren’t sure how many letters went out, but believe it’s limited to people that the sender knew.

The fake letters were signed by a “Donna Princinsky,” with the Kalamazoo Water Quality Office.  Officials with the real city water department say there is no one by that name who works for the city.

If you received this fake letter, officials ask that you simply ignore it and throw it out.