Death Threat & Blackmail Scam 20 June 2007 - Peter McGlothin didn't know what to think when he first got the e-mail with a bounty on his head. "[It] is a pity that this is how your life is going to end," the e-mail said. The e-mailer, describing himself as a hitman, said one of McGlothin's "friends" put out a contract on his life and that people were monitoring his movements.

But the e-mailer offered to cut him a deal: Cough up $30,000 and McGlothin would be left alone. Ignoring the e-mail's threat to "not contact police," McGlothin went to the FBI.

Authorities say McGlothin is not alone. The FBI has received more than 100 complaints about the so-called "hitman scam" from across the country. Typically, the cyber shakedown seeks anywhere from $30,000 to $80,000.

The "hitman scam," which first came to the FBI's attention in December last year, even spawned a second, reinforcing scam, that claimed to be from the FBI office in London. In that e-mail, it said somebody was recently arrested for the murders of several people in the United States and Britain regarding "hits" against people. The recipient, the e-mail said, was the next person on the list to be killed and they should reply to help with the investigation.

McGlothin never fell for the scam, because as the FBI points out, the e-mail was mostly generic. There was nothing specific to him, not even his address.

However, that's not always the case. The FBI says at least one e-mailer got a second e-mail listing personal details -- his work address, marital status and daughter's full name.

"TELL ME NOW ARE YOU READY TO DO WHAT I SAID OR DO YOU WANT ME TO PROCEED WITH MY JOB?" the e-mail said, according to the FBI.

McGlothin says he's speaking out so that others won't become victims of a dangerous Internet scam.

Original Article: Authorities investigate online 'hitman' scams