New Hampshire
Blackmail scam alert: NH residents targeted
CONCORD — Attorney General John M. Formella has issued an alert warning of a blackmail scam targeting New Hampshire residents, including the state’s older adult population.
The state attorney general’s office has received several reports from residents who have received similar e-mails from senders who are unfamiliar to them. The e-mail subject line contained the recipient’s name. The body of the e-mail contained the recipient’s name and home address. A similarly worded, threatening letter was attached to each e-mail. The letter contained the recipient’s name, telephone number, home address, and a picture of the recipient’s home. The letter claimed that a virus was placed on the recipient’s electronic device, allowing the sender to track the recipient’s browsing history, e-mails, and social media accounts.
The letter warns that the sender has extracted embarrassing information about the recipient. The sender threatens that the embarrassing information will be sent to the recipient’s e-mail and/or telephone contacts unless the recipient pays a “privacy fee” using cryptocurrency. The letter lists the amount of the “privacy fee” and cryptocurrency account information for deposit.
An e-mail containing this type of letter as an attachment is known as a “blackmail scam.” Residents should understand that the senders of these e-mails have not actually been to the recipient’s home. They have obtained personal identifying information from publicly available sources and included photos of the recipient’s home obtained online in the letter. Further, the sender has not gained access to the recipient’s electronic device. Instead, the sender threatens the recipient to create a sense of fear and urgency so that the recipient will pay money.
The Attorney General urges New Hampshire residents to be vigilant. Do not reply to or open any attachments in electronic messages from senders with whom you are unfamiliar. Anyone who opens one of these letters attached to an e-mail should take the following steps:
- Do not panic.
- Do not send money, including cryptocurrency, in response to the letter.
- Contact your local police department, especially if you have lost money.
- If you are concerned about whether your computer or other device has been compromised, contact a reputable computer company you can verify to inspect your device.
- Report the scam to the Office of the Attorney General – Consumer Protection Hotline:
1-888-468-4454E-mail: Doj-CPB@doj.nh.govwww.doj.nh.gov/consumer/complaints
Anyone with knowledge that a vulnerable adult has been scammed or financially exploited should also contact the New Hampshire Bureau of Adult and Aging Services, at 1-800-949-0470.
A death investigation is underway after a body was found in the Merrimack River in Hooksett, New Hampshire, on Monday.
New Hampshire State Poice said they recovered the body from the river on Monday evening after receiving a report around 6:14 p.m. that a person had been found dead.
The person’s identity has not been released by police pending an autopsy and notification of family.
State police were assisted at the scene by members of the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, and the Hooksett police and fire departments.
Anyone with information that could assist with investigation is being asked to contact Detective Micah Jones at Micah.A.Jones@dos.nh.gov.
New Hampshire
Pedestrian Struck, Killed, Driver Charges; 3-Alarm House Fire; Drowning; More: PM Patch NH
Community Corner
Shooting victims’ family raises money for pregnant women’s org; Medicaid cuts to fund child tax credits and income tax cuts; indictments.
CONCORD, NH — Here are some share-worthy stories from the New Hampshire Patch network to discuss this afternoon and evening.
This post features stories and information published since Friday night.
Pembroke Shooting Victims’ Family Raising Money For St. Gianna’s Place: A GoFundMe effort to honor Julia and Blake Byrne was started for the org. It provides shelter for homeless pregnant women and their babies.
Find out what’s happening in Concordfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Cuts, Changes To Medicaid Proposed In New Bill: What To Know In NH: The proposal highlights the biggest political fight about health care as Republicans attempt to sustain the 2017 Jobs and Tax Cuts Act.
Nashua Man Dies After Falling Into Brook In Hudson While Fishing: Derry, Hudson, Londonderry, Nashua, Pelham, and Windham responders were dispatched to Beaver Brook for an elderly man who fell in the water.
Find out what’s happening in Concordfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Pedestrian Dies In Nashua Kinsley Street Crash, Driver Of Car Arrested: Nashua police say the driver, Jason Fitzgerald, 52, of Nashua, was arrested and charged with aggravated DUI.
Chase Leads To Arrest; Fatal Camper Fire; Crashes; More: Nearby News: Deaths ID’d; rest stop invasion of privacy incident; house speaker taken to the hospital; pharmacy chain to close; services for “Grace.”
Loudon House Fire Goes To 3-Alarms; 2 Firefighters Injured: Firefighters from the capital region spent Saturday night battling a house fire, which reportedly started in an attached woodshed.
Bedford Man Indicted On 20 Gun, Drug Distribution Counts: Roundup: Plus: Franklin teen indicted on baby assault charges; Nashua man indicted on Hooksett, Pembroke burglary, theft charges; drug indictments.
Merrimack Man Indicted On Child Sexual Assault Charges: Court Roundup: Nashua man faces strangulation charge; teen indicted on burglary charge; Milford, Hudson drug indictments; Londonderry man accused of theft.
Elderly Campton Man Faces Derry Sexual Assault Charges: Court Roundup: Man indicted on child sexual abuse images charges; Windham man indicted for strangulation, domestic violence; habitual offenders indicted.
Double Fatal Shooting; Souter Dies; Where’s That Smoke From? PM Patch: Plus: Man accused of armed robbery during Facebook Marketplace meetup; celebrating mom; pedestrian struck by truck; state budget updates.
Here are some other posts readers may have missed:
Stories; Family Preparedness; Recitals; Duckin’ Dodge: Get Out, NH
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