Date Last Reviewed:
05/28/2008
NIU e-mail users have recently been targeted with a number of SPAM messages that contain content indicating that: the recipient is being stalked; is targeted to be killed; or that their family members are going to be harmed. Usually these messages have very poor grammar and are pretty obviously false in nature. The e-mail often contains a message that money needs to be sent in order to stop the threatened outcome. Typically there is also a mention that law enforcement should not be contacted and if such contact does occur, the threat will be carried out immediately.
This type of SPAM scam has been around for a long time. The FBI has previously posted information indicating that there is no validity to threats made in these e-mails and the NIU Police Department concurs with that assessment. That said, it is up to each individual to assess if and when they feel threatened and it is always their prerogative to contact law enforcement officials should they feel that such a threat may be valid.
As with other random SPAM messages, there is very little we can do to systematically and persistently block the sources. We have several source blocks in-place but the sources shift on a regular basis.
On a good note, there have been some recent overseas arrests of several spam rings.