FBI investigates fraudulent voter letters sent from Seattle

TAMPA - Registered voter Sharon Calvert was boiling mad when she opened the envelope.

"Something seemed very strange about the whole letter," said Calvert.

The fraudulent letter is printed on official-looking letterhead with the Hillsborough County Election Supervisor's name at the top and aimed at scaring registered voters from casting their ballot.

"It says that's there's a question on your eligibility to vote, and if you don't provide certain information and documentation within 15 days, you're going to be thrown off the rolls," said Calvert.

Calvert is a Republican Tea Party activist who recently ran for county office.

"The Supervisor of Elections knows who I am," she said.

Still, she's one of four people in Hillsborough County who were targeted.

Travis Horn, a former Republican political consultant, got one too.

"You've never committed any felonies.  You're a veteran.  You've served in the military, been involved in politics. You've tried to be a good citizen and then to get this letter, it’s a little insulting," said registered voter Travis Horn.

There are ways to tell the letter is a phony.  The most glaring giveaway -- it’s postmarked from Seattle, Washington.

"Voters should know the letterhead on the top is not our letterhead.  Actually, they borrowed it from another county," explained Travis Abercrombie, Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections spokesperson.

Here's something else to look for: The fraudulent logo shows an eagle, but Hillsborough County's logo is a medallion inscribed with "We the People."

The letters have landed in mailboxes in 18 Florida counties including every county in Tampa Bay, mostly addressed to registered Republicans. The FBI is investigating because it appears the letters were mailed across state lines.

"We want a huge voter turnout and this is just an example of somebody trying to prevent that," said Art Wood, Chair Republican Party of Hillsborough County.

Tampa Bay Election Supervisors are asking you to keep your letter and call them.  This close to the election, they suspect there are more out there.

"It should be a warning to be on the lookout for something that really looks odd," said Calvert.