Radnor Police are investigating an email scam in which a person claiming to be a hit man threatened to kill a woman if she didn't pay him in Bitcoin.
On Sunday a woman reported to police that she received a suspicious email from a man demanding a specific amount of Bitcoin in exchange for the person calling off a “hit for hire.” Police say the email also threatened the woman’s family members and stated that the person had received an order to “kill the victim.”
Radnor Police and the FBI determined the email was a scam. Similar emails have been generated from overseas domains and were sent out by the thousands in the hopes that someone would fall for it, according to investigators. Police say Sunday’s email was the first case they’ve seen in Radnor.
“This is the first time we’ve seen something this graphic and this threatening in nature,” said Radnor Twp. Police Superintendent Bill Colarulo. “Not only are they threatening to kill you, which is a death threat, but it’s also an extortion.”
While the threat is fake, Colarulo acknowledged it's disturbing nature.
"But it doesn't negate the fact that it's very disturbing and chilling to receive this type of an email when it threatens not only you but your family," Colarulo said.
If you’ve received a similar email, don’t respond and don’t make a payment. Instead, call police or 911 immediately.
