Beware of carbon monoxide scam
By Claudia Buck, Sacramento Bee
Something didn’t smell right, and it certainly wasn’t carbon monoxide.
Alert constituents and an inquisitive state senator’s office apparently halted a mail scam attempting to con homeowners, based on a new state law requiring carbon monoxide alarms.
The scam was apparently run from a post office box directly across the street from the state Capitol, where lawmakers last year passed SB 183, which requires the alarms as a way to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning deaths.
“It’s absolutely brazen,” said Mark Spannagel, chief of staff for state Sen. Doug LaMalfa, R-Richvale, who said about a dozen constituents reported receiving letters asking them to send $76 in order to comply with the law and avoid a possible fine. LaMalfa’s district covers parts of Placer, Yuba and Nevada counties.
