The City of Porterville released a public service announcement warning community member of a new scam on a long list of tactics designed to elicit some type of payment to the author of the e-mail.

A member of the community reported they received e-mails from persons claiming to be assassins who demand payment to prevent a murder.

The “assassin” e-mails vary in content but generally claim that ‘someone who knows you very well wants you dead’ and offers to let you live if you comply and send money to the assassin, usually to the sum of $8,000.

The announcement states this attack dates back to 2007, but scams like these surface regularly throughout the year.

Members of the community can call 559-782-7400 with any questions or concerns regarding the scam.