Email I received this morning:
“On Mon, Oct 26, 2009 at 3:17 AM, REHM, DALE <dale.rehm@hp.com> wrote:
To Whom it May Concern,
I enjoy Ms. Wu’s work and I am wondering if I may request an autographed photograph. Thank you for your time.
Regards,
Dale Rehm
HP”
(mailing address removed)
WARNING FLAGS that went off in my head:
1.) I have not done any noteworthy acting work
2.) I have not done any noteworthy acting work that is visible online
3.) He doesn’t exist on Google except on others’ blog posts about creepy autographed photo requests. (see http://erincronican.blogspot.com/2009/03/really-who-are-you.html – she received the exact same letter, and has a theory as to why someone would send out these requests to (mostly) unknown actors)
4.) Should he really be using a work email for this type of request? HP Should Get Mad Right Now.
See, if you’re a friend and you want a headshot, cool. My grandma has one in her living room too. If I’m famous, cool. Famous people do signings and appearances. But Really Random Stranger Wanting Autographed Photo Of Young Woman Who Is A Wannabe Actor just doesn’t sound good. Hence the “slightly creepy”.
Anyway, Sorry Mister Dale Rehm, you are not getting a photograph, and this blog post is staying online so other actors know they’re not the only ones receiving your strange and widespread request.
*EDIT* 6:32 AM: have emailed HP’s Corporate Compliance / business ethics department regarding employee email address abuse.
*EDIT* Nov.25, 2009. Thanks for your comments guys! Here’s what became of that email I sent to HP Corporate Compliance:
from: Beverly Wu
to: corporate.compliance@hp.com
date: Mon, Oct 26, 2009 at 5:26 AM
subject: Possible HP Employee email address abuse?
Dear HP,
I received the following email this morning from someone who appears to own an hp.com email address, and must say that I am not impressed with what Mr. Rehm is using his company email address for in his spare time. Googling “Dale Rehm” only turns up other experiences from other actors who have received the same strange request as me (below), as not many of us are “known” actors.
Please write back, as I would like to know what becomes of this.
Thanks very much,
Beverly Wu
=============================================
from: Corporate Compliance <compliance@hp.com>
to: Beverly Wu
cc: Corporate Compliance <compliance@hp.com>
date: Mon, Oct 26, 2009 at 10:37 AM
subject: RE: Possible HP Employee email address abuse?
Ms. Wu,
Hello and thank you for your message. I am the intake program manager for the corporate compliance mailbox in the Ethics and Compliance Office.
Employees may occasionally use some company resources (such as e-mail) for incidental personal activities, so the following use would not be considered a violation of our policy, assuming this was your only contact with Mr. Rehm. If you have any other info you can provide regarding the matter, please do so.
Thank you for bringing the matter to our attention; we will look into it.
HP Ethics and Compliance Office
corporate.compliance@hp.com
All you guys getting the same requests…email HP compliance – they did ask, “If you have any other info you can provide regarding the matter, please do so.” and you guys have the “other info”!
The whole matter is not entirely creepy…just sorta out of left field.
