The Putnam County Assessor's Office is warning residents about a prank letter circulating the area about a tax liability reduction.
The letter is telling residents they can attend a hearing for a decrease in tax liability. The letter says not to call the office, just to show up on the date provided and the hearings will be on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Assessor Sherry Hayes said the prank is upsetting because its sole purpose seems to be to inconvenience the taxpayers and the Assessor's office. The letter doesn't ask recipients to pay money or provide personal information.
"If someone is mad at me, come at me," Hayes said. "Don't come at the taxpayers."
Hayes was unsure of the motivation behind the letter, but was upset about the potential trouble it could cause taxpayers who might have taken off work to come to a fake hearing. Hayes is running unopposed for re-election as Putnam County Assessor in the upcoming election.
She said the office discovered the prank Monday when a man showed up with the letter. The letter he provided the office said his hearing was scheduled at 9:30 a.m. that day.
The letter has the official Putnam County logo and claims to be from Hayes. Hayes said the letter looks authentic and is well put-together, but is definitely a prank. Anyone who receives this letter should call the Assessor's office at 304-586-0206. Hayes said anyone who has the original envelope the letter came in should forward it or bring it to the Assessor's office.
The county is investigating the matter, and the original envelope would help the investigation significantly, Hayes said.
Reach Laura Haight at laura.haight@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-4843 or follow @laurahaight_ on Twitter.