Threatening Messages Reported in Baltimore County: Police

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — Suspicious phone calls and text messages have been reported to the Baltimore County Police Department on Tuesday, officials said. Do not provide personal information or money if contacted by the suspects via phone or text, authorities advised.

The phone calls are from someone who claims to be with Maryland State Police alleging to have an arrest warrant or stating the call recipient failed to appear in court, officials said.

The text messages were sent by someone claiming to have been hired to kill the recipient. According to Maryland State Police, the messages say: "I've been paid to kill you but wish to spare you. Inform the police or anyone else you die. To be spared, contact vsdky@hotmail.com immediately via email."

Recipients should not reply under any circumstance, police said.

Officials say the messages were sent by isigman@conejousd.org.

Responding to the text messages will download all information on a person's phone, according to Maryland State Police, which advised citizens to delete the text message if received.

Full statement from Baltimore County Police Department on Dec. 27:

"The Baltimore County Police Department has received several reports of suspicious calls and text messages today. Some people have received text messages stating that the sender has been hired to kill the recipient and to respond to the email that the text is from. Other people have reported receiving calls from someone who is claims to be with the State Police and states that they failed to appear in court or have a warrant.

"At this time, police have no information about anyone who had actually provided personal information or money in response to one of the messages or phone calls.

"Anyone receiving a suspicious call should not provide the caller with any personal information or send them money. People receiving suspicious emails or texts should not respond to them."