The District Attorney’s Office has received two reports of area residents receiving threatening e-mails designed to extort a large sum of money, or to scare the recipient. The e-mails are identical and the author claims to have a contract for $50,000 to kill the person receiving the e-mail, but if the victim will pay $80,000 the hired killer will not fulfill the contract. The writer warns the victim not to call the police because he/she will know if that happens and will have to complete the contract.

We believe this to be a scam, and believe that there is no hired killer who has a contract on anyone’s life. One possible goal is to frighten the victim into paying a large sum of money to save his/her life. To date the perpetrator has not made any further contact with the victims to try to collect the money. Only the original e-mail has been received. Or the goal may simply be to scare victims, a particular concern with persons who already feel isolated or vulnerable. Regardless of whether the motivation is fraud or a prank, this is a serious matter. Anyone receiving this e-mail should notify their local law enforcement agency immediately, or call the Fraud Assistance Line at 720-874-8547. Under no circumstances should any money be paid or any attempt be made to contact or correspond with the perpetrator. Anyone receiving this e-mail should do nothing without the advice of law enforcement.

A copy of the threatening e-mail may be found on the District Attorney’s website, www.da18.org. Click on “Fraud Alerts”, “Your Money or Your Life” and the hyperlink at the bottom of the page.