The Community School of Music and Arts is warning locals to be aware that an imposter, falsely identifying himself (or herself) as a CSMA fundraiser, has been calling and asking for donations.

"We knew right away that it was bogus," said CSMA spokesman John Williams. To Williams' knowledge no one has lost any money as a result of the fraud. Still, the school wanted to make sure the community knows about it. A warning has been prominently posted on the front page of CSMA's website, and local media outlets have been advised.

The woman who alerted the CSMA of the scam said she had received a phone call earlier in the week from someone asking for a donation. "She was suspicious enough not be taken by it," Williams said. She declined to give the caller any information over the phone and called the Mountain View-based music and arts school to ask whether the pledge drive was legitimate.

Upon investigating the fraud, Williams said, the officials from the school discovered that other community members had been called, but none had actually given money. Because the people contacted were not affiliated with the school in any way, Williams said there is no reason to suspect that the CSMA's database has been hacked.

According to Williams, the CSMA's investigation turned up a phone number in connection with the fraudulent calls -- 949-313-3622. Williams said that anyone who receives a call from that number ought to be suspicious.

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