BOISE, Idaho — The Meridian Police Department (MPD) have put out a warning of an email scam around town.
On their Facebook post, MPD said, "several Meridian residents have received letters or emails that are threatening in nature, suggesting they have personal information that may be embarrassing if revealed. They demand payment through unconventional means. If payment is not received, they say they will compromise your privacy."
The images below show an example of the threatening letters sent to victims. The letter claims to have compromising information on the victim that would be shared to the victim's contacts if the victim does not pay them. The letter includes the victim's address with the presumed threat of visiting the victim's house if the money is not paid. The scammer is also requesting payment through Bitcoin, an online cryptocurrency.
Meridian Police warn not to respond if an email or letter:
- Specifies your address or location
- Claims to have compromising information about you and threatens to share it
- Requests payment through unconventional methods like cryptocurrency or gift cards
- Exhibits poor grammar or punctuation
Police said these scams are designed to instill fear and solicit an urgent response.
If you or someone you know has fallen victim to one of these scams, victims are encouraged to contact the non-emergency dispatch line at 208-377-6790 and request a report.