BROOKSVILLE — While scrolling through e-mails on his BlackBerry over the weekend, state Rep. Rob Schenck came across one in particular that caught his eye. And not just because of the mangled syntax.
“I felt very sorry and bad for you,” read the e-mail, “that your life is going to end like this if you don’t comply, I was paid to eliminate you and I have to do it within 10 days. … I might just spare your life, $8,000 is all you need to spend.”
Schenck managed to shake off the online threat long enough to report the e-mail to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office. He was one of at least four Hernando residents who received the same message in recent days. “When you read something that disturbing, for a moment you do get concerned,” Schenck said Wednesday. “No matter whether it’s fake or not, if someone talks about killing your family, it’s unsettling.” On Wednesday, the Sheriff’s Office called the e-mails part of an online scam and warned residents against sending money to anyone. Authorities said people who receive the e-mails should immediately delete them.
The Sheriff’s Office urges anyone who has sent money in response to the e-mail to file a report with the agency.
“We want to let the public know that you have to be a willing victim to fall victim,” said Sgt. Donna Black, a spokeswoman with the Sheriff’s Office. “This is just a new scare tactic to get money out of people.”
Oh no! What if my spam filter catches it first……I’m doomed!
Interesting, but this isn’t a phishing attack. Just an extortion attempt via email.
“We want to let the public know that you have to be a willing victim to fall victim,”
While I might be as far right as folks get around here, there’s a line to be drawn on what someone should be responsible for and what isn’t their responsibility. The concept of “It’s the victim’s fault” crosses that line, especially when a threat of physical harm is in the mix.
We all know it’s some lame ass spammer trying to make $20 behind the e-mail, but that shouldn’t matter. The police should be getting the FBI to look in to this, not telling people to delete their spam.
Then again, why the hell would anyone call the local sheriff for something like this? Call someone who can actually do something.
Yeah, call the Spam Police!
The story is much ado about nothing.
HOWEVER, the police should not ignore it.
Through gmail they do have access to trace the guy’s identity. Through Interpol they can find him in other countries. If other countries refuse to stop illegal acts on the net then stop all financial activity with that country.
I am tired of the police saying they don’t have the time or resources to go after these assholes.
It’s from the RIAA, they are getting desperate.
#5 – Mr. Fusion
>>Through gmail they do have access to
>>trace the guy’s identity.
Ooooh noooo! First they’re tracking all my visits to self-help murder web sites with google.com/history, now they can trace my identity through gmail?
Arrrghhh!
Weren’t these the guys who said their motto was “Don’t be evil”???? Sonsabitches.
Arrrghhh!
#7, Mustard,
I have no problems with police having the ability to get a subpoena to discover the identity of someone committing a crime.
“Do No Evil” should not include hiding criminals. Yes it is easy for the police to chase down those who sell shoddy driveway paving jobs door to door. Why should they be hindered because the con artist is doing it through email?
NOW, having said that, if you notice, I said they should get a subpoena. They should not be allowed to have blanket hunting rights.