Call from fake Washington Post reporter asks for 'damaging' info on Roy Moore

Jessica Estepa | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Moore claims 'spiritual battle' in U.S. politics Moore claims 'spiritual battle' in US politics

Did you get a call from Bernie Bernstein?

A pastor in Alabama reportedly received a robocall from someone claiming to be Bernstein, a person identifying himself as a Washington Post reporter seeking "damaging" information on Senate candidate Roy Moore.

And, according to the Post, Bernstein does not exist.

Here's the message in question, according to CBS affiliate WKRG:

“Hi, this is Bernie Bernstein. I’m a reporter for the Washington Post calling to find out if anyone at this address is a female between the ages of 54 to 57 years old willing to make damaging remarks about candidate Roy Moore for a reward of between $5,000 and $7,000. We will not be fully investigating these claims; however, we will make a written report. I can be reached by email at albernstein@washingtonpost.com, thank you.”

The pastor who received the call, Al Moore (who is no relation to Roy Moore), was reportedly baffled by the call and tried to send a message to the address. It was undeliverable.

(We also tried to send a message, and it too was undeliverable.)

The call came days after the Post broke a story about four women who accused Moore of pursuing them when they were teenagers while he was in his 30s. One of those women, Leigh Corfman, said she was only 14 at the time.

Since the Post story was published, a fifth woman has come forward to say she was assaulted by Moore when she was 16.

Moore has denied the allegations.

Marty Baron, the Post's executive editor, said the news organization was "shocked and appalled" by the Bernie Bernstein call.

“The Post has just learned that at least one person in Alabama has received a call from someone falsely claiming to be from The Washington Post,” Baron said in a statement. “The call’s description of our reporting methods bears no relationship to reality. We are shocked and appalled that anyone would stoop to this level to discredit real journalism.”

The Post has no reporters named Bernie Bernstein or Al Bernstein.

And some social media users couldn't help but poke fun at the fake name:

"what's bernie short for?"

"bernstein."

"your parents named you bernstein bernstein? that can't be right." — Bernie Bernstein, Certified Real Jewish Reporter (@migold) November 14, 2017

Shylock Goldsteal was taken? https://t.co/mvYR7xcinZ — Seth Mandel (@SethAMandel) November 14, 2017

bernie bernstein's reporting partner woody woodward — Ariel Edwards-Levy (@aedwardslevy) November 14, 2017

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