Dozens Of MA Businesses Targeted In Nationwide Bitcoin Bomb Scam

BOSTON, MA -- Bitcoin scammers sent hundreds of email threats to businesses across the country, including several in Massachusetts Thursday. Massachusetts State Police and police departments throughout the state were responding to threats but signaling that they were not credible.

"MSP and partner agencies on federal and local levels are conducting risk assessment procedures regarding the threats and will determine appropriate responses. NO indications of any explosives located or detonated to this point," State Police said.

The threats were described as "non-specific threats in apparent spam emails," according to multiple police departments throughout the country. Under the subject line "We Can Make A Deal," the email said the bombs were "covered up carefully" in the building where the threat was sent, and that if the bombs were detonated, the explosions would result in "many victims." The emails threatened to detonate a bomb if a $20,000 ransom was not paid using the cyber currency.

Police confirmed bomb threats to the Boston Opera House, on Derby Street in Hingham and Cross Point in Lowell. Several other reported threats across the region have not been confirmed.

"There have been multiple emailed bomb threats being sent to corporations throughout the city," Boston Police Officer Stephen McNulty said. "Boston Police will be investigating them all just out of an abundance of caution."

Four threats in Cambridge were declared hoaxes, but not before at least one business was evacuated. Braintree Police said threats in that community were "not credible." In Weston, Police said a threat at the private Rivers School did not appear to be credible. Meanwhile, Worcester Police were responding to a similar threat at 12 George Street in that city.

This is a breaking news story. Patch will update if new information becomes available.

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Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).