Bomb threats have been reported to local authorities, but they claim it’s part of a nationwide scamming movement.

Jefferson Police Chief Mark Clouse says if a business or an individual receives an email saying that an explosive device has been hidden within your building where your company conducts its business and the email asks you to to pay them money for the device not to explode, it is a scam. The message claims that if you don’t pay by the end of the day, the device will detonate and it claims that they are not a terrorist organization. However, Clouse says state and federal law enforcement agencies believe this to be a scam.

Clouse notes that if someone receives an email like this to notify them at the law enforcement center by calling their non-emergency number at 386-2136, other any other local law enforcement agency number.