Beware geeky gifts: State governors turning down mystery laptop shipments

State govs saying ‘No Thanks’ to mystery laptops

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Even during tight budgetary times, a growing handful of state governors are proving too wary to accept “free” laptop computers that have shown up at their offices this month, unsolicited.

Officials in West Virginia, Vermont, Wyoming and Washington state report deliveries of between three and five laptops — but none had ordered them.

The laptops were made by Hewlett-Packard, which has reported intercepting a shipment to an additional state.

The company says it is aware of fraudulent state government orders, has taken corrective action and is working with law enforcement.

Vermont’s laptops were paid for by a credit card fraudulently issued in its governor’s name. Each state has either shipped back the laptops or handed them over to state investigators.