DUBUQUE, IOWA – Police are no strangers to ruses being reported constantly here in Iowa, but this latest report of a scammer contacting folks and saying the caller is about to assassinate them unless a sum of $2,000 is paid might be one of the worst.
In Dubuque, police there say a scam has been reported to them involving a “fictitious assassination plot.” Allegedly, it has been reported that citizens have been receiving the below text message in recent days:
“LISTEN VERY CAREFULLY, THIS IS THE ONLY WAY I CAN CONTACT YOU, MY TEAM HAS BEEN PAID TO ASSASINATE YOU, I HAVE EVERY REASON TO CARRY OUT THE CONTRACT, BUT I DECIDED TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE AND SAVE YOUR FAMILY THIS PAIN, THIS YOUR ALTERNATIVE, I WISH TO HELP YOU UNLESS YOU DONT WANT TO HELP YOUR SELF, I WILL SEND YOU ENOUGH EVIDENCE YOU NEED ON A VIDEO TAPE RECORD TO NAIL MY EMPLOYER DOWN WITH THE LAW. BEFORE THAT YOUR REQUIRED TO MAKE AVAILABLE THE SUM OF $2,000. USD AFTER WHICH I WILL DIRECT YOU ON WHAT TO DO NEXT TO SAVE YOUR SELF AND YOUR FAMILY FROM THIS PAIN THAT WOULD HAVE BEFALLED YOU FROM MY EMPLOYER,THE MONEY WILL BE USED TO SETTLE THE TEAM MEN INVOLVED TO GO BACK TO THERE DESTINATIONS AND YOU BETTER KEEP THIS INFORMATION TO YOUR SELF BECAUSE YOU DONT KNOW WHO IS WHO WHERE YOU ARE NOW,IF HE FINDS OUT I HAVE BETRAYED HIM TRYING TO HELP YOU,YOU WILL HAVE YOUR SELF TO BLAME, I HAVE ORDERED MY MEN TO STAU AWAY FROM YOU. NOTE: YOU HAVE TWO OPTIONS HERE, (1) YOU HAVE TO GET HIM ARRESTED WITH THE INFORMATION I WILL GIVE YOU AFTER THE PAYMENT OR (2) YOU HAVE HIM KILLED TO SAVE YOUR SELF. I WILL VISIT YOUR HOUSE AGAIN BUT NOT NOW. MY BOYS EYES ARE ON YOU SO GET BACK TO ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. DO WE HAVE A DEAL OR NOT?? I NEED YOUR REPLY URGENTLY TO KNOW WHAT TO DO NEXT!!!”
Police say that while the scam is “farfetched”, they hope you would contact police before giving money to an “assassin”.
“We certainly see how getting this text message could cause concern. If you receive this message do not respond to it,” police said in a statement.
If you feel you are the victim of a possible scam, report it to your local police immediately.
