On December 17, I received an urgent—and vaguely familiar—type of message from state senator Pam Roach (R-Auburn):

From: "Pam Roach"
Date: December 17, 2012 8:27:30 AM PST
Subject: NEED YOUR HELP...(Pamela Roach)

Good morning,

I Hope you get this on time, I made a trip to Manila(Philippines) and had my bag stolen from me with my passport and personal effects therein. The embassy has just issued me a temporary passport but I have to pay for a ticket and settle my hotel bills with the Manager.

I have made contact with my bank but it would take me 3-5 working days to access funds in my account, the bad news is my flight will be leaving very soon but i am having problems settling the hotel bills and the hotel manager won't let me leave until i settle the bills, I need your help/LOAN financially and I promise to make the refund once i get back home, you are my last resort and hope, Please let me know if i can count on you and i need you to keep checking your email because it's the only way i can reach you.

Pam Roach
State Senator
31st District, WA

Naturally, we were busy gathering up some help/LOAN for Senator Roach when, in response to a call to her office, Roach told my voice mail:

Hey Eli, Pam Roach calling. Well yes, I was hacked. I mean, who knows how many e-mail addresses I've had over the many many years on my account. In any event, thanks for checking in and no, I didn't get held up in the Philippines. I do a lot of traveling, but haven't been there for a couple years. Thanks for checking in, and look forward to talking to you at some fun point during the session. Take care, bye bye.

Phew!