E-mail Scam Makes Normal People Feel Important, Hunted

Oct. 27 2008, Published 7:07 a.m. ET

A new e-mail scam going around D.C. makes regular working stiffs think they're important enough to have a price on their heads. "I've been hired to kill you, it's one of your friends, I'm watching you. However ... I don't believe you did what they said, and I'm going to give you a chance to pay me, and I won't kill you," the e-mail goes. Then the sender asks for $15,000 in exchange for audio tape evidence of the hit contract. Even more alarming, the messages are often rife with spelling and grammar errors, authorities say. Fortunately, RadarOnline.com has discovered the source of the scam e-mails and will gladly send the information to anyone who sends us a check for $14,999.99. WaPo