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An area resident contacted Lake County News Friday to say that she had received an e-mail telling her that she was entitled to a tax refund.
The e-mail directed her to respond in order to get the proper forms. She was concerned because she had not previously given the IRS her e-mail address.
She immediately contacted the IRS via its Web site at www.irs.gov.
The IRS responded by e-mail, telling her, “The IRS does not e-mail taxpayers requesting private confidential information. This is a scam. Do not respond to the e-mail. We also recommend that you contact the postmaster general.”
Using the names of government agencies as part of e-mail scams isn't new.
Earlier this year, the Federal Bureau of Investigations' Internet Crime Complaint Center reported on the use of fraudulent e-mails using the FBI's name and its director, Robert Mueller, on false lottery endorsement and inheritance notifications.
Another e-mail scam claimed to be from a U.S. military official requesting funds on behalf of U.S. troops overseas, according to the FBI.
A third spam e-mail scheme claimed to be from the Department of Justice, warning the recipients that they have been the subject of complaints filed with the DOJ. The e-mails even include an attachment that is supposed to be a copy of the complaints against the e-mail recipient.
The FBI reported that these spam e-mail messages are hoaxes and should be immediately deleted.
The agency also warned consumers to be wary of unsolicited e-mails that request them to take any information – even clicking on an attachment – because doing so could launch viruses, Trojan horse programs or other malicious software on their computers.
Anyone who has received such messages is urged to file a complaint online at the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, www.ic3.gov/. The site also offers tips on computer safety. More information on protecting yourself from Internet scams also can be found at www.fbi.gov/becrimesmart.htm.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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Granzella's Restaurant, located in Williams, caught on fire Thursday afternoon, according to Williams Fire Protection District Chief Jeff Gilbert.
Firefighters were dispatched at 3:21 p.m., said Gilbert.
At the time, there were 200 people – both patrons and employees – in the building, Gilbert said.
Mutual aid to battle the fire came from Glenn, Colusa, Yolo, Sutter and Yuba counties, said Gilbert. All told, there were 19 pieces of apparatus – including engines and command vehicles – and 96 firefighters.
The fire was contained by about 7 p.m. Thursday, Gilbert added.
The fire's precise cause isn't yet known, said Gilbert, but officials are focusing on the kitchen, where they believe the blaze started.
Two-thirds of the structure were completely destroyed, with the rest of the building – mostly its popular sports bar, which is a newer part of the building – damaged by smoke and water. Gilbert said the remainder of the building that was saved will have to be torn down.
Damages also are still being tallied, said Gilbert, with no dollar amount yet known. “It will end up being a total loss,” he said.
Much of the sports memorabilia from the sports bar was saved, said Gilbert.
That included the two stuffed polar bears, one above the bar – which had some minor smoke and water damage – and a second in a glass case, which Gilbert said was undamaged.
Everyone has been asking about the polar bears, Gilbert added.
As far as fires go, Gilbert said, “I've been here four year and I've never seen anything this big.”
Jim and Beverly Granzella opened the restaurant as an Italian deli in 1976, according to the company's Web site, www.granzellas.com.
The business eventually expanded into a restaurant, growing into a popular stop for travelers along Interstate 5 and Highway 20.
Lake County News was unable to reach a company representative for comment. However, Denise McCarty, daughter of Jim and Beverly Granzella and a co-owner in the restaurant, told the Sacramento Bee that the family intends to rebuild and continue the business.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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