Police Investigate Threatening Emails Sent to Nonprofit Organizations

The Montgomery County Police Department is investigating two incidents that occurred within the last week which involve threatening emails being sent to nonprofit organizations.

The emails, sent to specific members of the organizations, state that if the recipient does not transfer a specified amount of money via the online payment system, Bitcoin, by a specified deadline, violence will occur at the organization’s workplace. The emails also warn that the nonprofits are under surveillance and warn them not to call law enforcement.

Montgomery County detectives, with the assistance of federal law enforcement, have determined that the emails originated from outside of the country and are a version of a phishing scheme used to extort money. Investigators have also concluded that the threats in the emails are not credible.

The Police Department urges any individual or organization that receives an email similar to the ones received in these incidents to call the police non-emergency number at 301.279.8000 and to not respond to the email or transfer money.

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