Sheriff warns scam targeting residents

NEW YORK (AP) — A wave of bomb threats emailed Thursday to hundreds of schools, businesses and government buildings across the U.S. triggered searches, evacuations and fear — but there were no signs of explosives, and authorities said the scare appeared to be a crude extortion attempt.

Law enforcement agencies across the country dismissed the threats, saying they were meant to cause disruption and compel recipients into sending money and were not considered credible.

Some of the emails had the subject line: “Think Twice.” They were sent from a spoofed email address. The sender claimed to have had an associate plant a small bomb in the recipient’s building and that the only way to stop him from setting it off was by making an online payment of $20,000 in Bitcoin.

Bomb threats were also sent across Moore County at various locations including government buildings. The threats were sent through emails warning of incoming damage to the buildings unless the recipients send payments by electronic currency.

“These threats all appear to be generated from the same source and at this time, do not appear to be a credible threat,” said Moore County Sheriff Ronnie Fields in a news release. 

The emails are being generated from out of the United States.

Sheriff Fields said to remain calm and not respond back.  The Sheriff’s Department is advising recipients of the emails to contact the office at 910-947-2931 for more information or questions.

This article was written with the help of The Associated Press.

Copyright 2018, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

 

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