Prank attempts to get Boston residents to put out recycling bins

(George Rizer/Globe Staff)

By Donovan Slack, Globe Staff

If you see your neighbor carrying his recycling bin out to the curb this morning, tell him to relax. It was all a prank, perpetrated by someone who apparently wanted to see the streets of Boston abounding in blue.

A hoax letter written on official-looking City of Boston letterhead went out to some residents in recent days, demanding that people put out their blue recycling bins for the city to pick up by Friday morning or face a hefty charge on their real estate tax bill.

“Unfortunately for the very few not willing to comply, we have been approved by Mayor Thomas M. Menino to add a standard fee of $327.00 to your real estate tax bill,” said the letter. “The Boston City Council has also approved this measure. Your last chance to avoid penalties will be Friday, February 13, 2009. Please place bins on sidewalk by 9 a.m. on this date.”

The name of the signer on the letter was a giveaway. When pronounced phonetically, it was an expression containing an expletive.

“This is obviously a prank,” said spokeswoman Dot Joyce. “The most concerning part was that someone used City of Boston letterhead.”

The city learned of the hoax when a West Roxbury resident called to ask about it yesterday. The city doesn’t know how many people received it or who wrote it.”

City officials are investigating, Joyce said.

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