Amador County Sheriff Martin A. Ryan wishes to inform the public of a new electronic mail (e-mail) scam which has come to the attention of local law enforcement. The Amador County Sheriff’s Office has received a number of reports from citizens regarding the receipt of suspicious e-mail messages.  The e-mails state that a team of individuals has been hired to kill the e-mail’s recipient, however if a cumulative payment is made, the hired killers will not follow through with their assignment and they will notify the recipient of who hired them.  The cumulative payment request has ranged from $11,000.00 to $15,000.00. 

The e-mail also admonishes the recipient not to notify law enforcement. While this does appear to be another electronic scam, this crosses a previously uncrossed line, in that it threatens physical violence.  Beyond content, a consistency in the e-mails reported to the Sheriff’s Office is the senders e-mail address, which ends “@gmail.com” and the e-mail title, “be more careful”. Sheriff Ryan recommends that computer users never open e-mail from unknown sources or those with unusual titles.  However, should you receive this e-mail or any other scam e-mail, you are encouraged to report them to your local law enforcement agency. For more information on e-mail hoaxes, go to www.snopes.com or antivirus.about.com