The Hit-Man E-Mail Threat Now Circulating

February 18, 2008 -- E-mail users at the University of Mary Washington are receiving a new hoax e-mail – the hit-man threat. This hoax e-mail, supposedly from a person hired as a contract killer, demands money by claiming that the recipient is targeted for murder.

The FBI advises that these messages are hoaxes and should be deleted. Replying to the e-mails gives a signal to the senders that they’ve reached a live account and tends to escalate the level of intimidation.

The e-mail messages are very strongly worded and can be frightening. Law enforcement officials say recipients of these messages are not in personal danger, but concerned users can check with the University Police Department if they feel threatened.

More information about this hoax can be found on the FBI’s Web site at www.fbi.gov. Use the search function for “hitman threat.”

The University also reminds employees not to provide personal information, such as social security, account or personal identification numbers, to any e-mail requestor unless it is the result of a business transaction that you have initiated.

This information was based on a similar notice posted recently at the University of Michigan.