Fake official
letter to Wyoming resident asks for sexual history

In the Casper, Wyo., area, someone has mailed at least one official-looking letter claiming that health authorities are seeking information on the recipient's sexual history. The letter, printed on letterhead stationery, claims to be from the Centers for Disease Control-Wyoming; however, no such agency exists, says Marty Thone, a division director with the Natrona County, Wyo., health department. City police and postal inspectors are investigating the matter, Thone says. Health officials didn't reveal the gender of the person receiving the letter or say whether the letter was seeking information about the recipient's sexual orientation.

While state and local health officials do sometimes contact persons who are identified as the sexual partners of those diagnosed with sexually transmitted diseases, such investigations are generally done face-to-face whenever possible, Thone says.

Thone says the letter is not "done in crayon" and "looks pretty good," which is "what worried us." "They talk about having your blood tested. If I didn't know better, it does sound like it could be real." If someone were to supply the information in response to the bogus inquiry, it could be used to embarrass or blackmail them, Thone says, adding that anyone receiving a similar letter should discard it. (AP, with additional reporting by Advocate.com)