A cautionary e-mail sent to medical and biochemistry researchers last week, prompted by missing equipment, has accused a private microscope service representative of fraudulent behavior, though the representative claims he has done nothing of the sort.
The mass e-mail — distributed by Clinical Science Center assistant professor Erik Ranheim and sent to Biochemistry, the medical school and Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research? — claims a man who alleges he is a microscope serviceman from M&M Microscopes has been visiting labs across campus and charging “ludicrous” amounts for his services. It adds he has put company stickers on microscopes he has not been contracted to service. The e-mail then urges researchers who see the man to contact UW Police.
According to Ranheim, Jon Boorom of M&M Microscopes first visited his lab three weeks ago claiming he was the contracted serviceperson for the lab’s microscopes. After Boorom’s visit, Ranheim said he found an M&M Microscopes sticker on one of his microscopes.
More than two weeks later — last Wednesday — Ranheim said one of his lab technicians discovered that three microscope lenses, valued at $1,200 total, were missing.
“I don’t have any evidence that [Boorom] did steal it,” Ranheim said, but added the coincidence prompted him to distribute an e-mail to CSC workers about the situation.
The UW Police Department is currently conducting an investigation to determine whether a criminal event took place, according to Lt. Peter Ystenes. No charges of fraudulent or criminal activity have been made.
“It’s perfectly legitimate for company representatives to come into labs, because we need to buy all sorts of things, and so we’re used to having people around,” UW Biocehmistry Department Chair Elizabeth Craig said.
No other reports of missing lenses or other microscope parts have been made.
Boorom said allegations that his company has engaged in fraudulent activity are unsubstantiated.
It is a common business practice for microscope service companies to place their business stickers on microscopes they have not serviced as a means of advertising, Boorom said. He added the M&M Microscopes sticker on the tampered microscope in no way implies a service representative from M&M Microscopes was responsible for the missing lenses.
“It’s a highly unsubstantiated innuendo that because your sticker is on the scope, then you took the stuff,” Boorom said.
Boorom added he operates a legitimate business and has worked with labs on campus for over 10 years with very positive reviews.
During the last two months, Boorom said he has had more “nasty and hostile encounters” with workers in the WIMR Building than he has in his 10 years of doing business on campus. He hypothesized this may be due to the fact that many researchers are moving into the new building and are stressed by the moving process.
Boorom believes the e-mail circulating on campus may be the result of an “extremely vocal minority” who may have had a negative experience with his company.
