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The e-mail stated, in part, "I have been paid some ransom in advance to terminate you with some reasons best known to him. It is someone believe you know very much. Besides, this is the 1st time I turn out to be a betrayer to him."

The author wrote that he needed $12,000 and a "part payment of $5,000" to serve as a guarantee that the woman was ready to cooperate. "... then, I will post a copy of the tape that contains his request for me to terminate you and pics which will be enough evidence for you to nail him by informing the cops before he employs another person for the job," the e-mail stated.

MSP said the incident is considered a financial, fraudulent act.

"I think she's been victimized," MSP Sgt. Michael VanHorn said last Thursday. "She's been put in fear of her life. The tenor of this email is ominous."

Trooper Tom George, who works out of the MSP Kalkaska Post is investigating the case and has made contact with MSP computer crimes specialists. The computer experts report similar e-mails in the western part of the United States.

The subject line of the email was "get back to me." The e-mail stated, "Warning; do not contact the police and be skeptical about where you go until this whole thing is sorted out; if you neglect any of these warnings you will have yourself to blame."

VanHorn said anyone in receipt of such an e-mail should call their local police immediately.

"He's trying to make it sound legitimate," VanHorn said of the author.

The e-mail states, "I want you to be very careful about this and keep this secret with you until you receive the tape and pics I am going to give you."

VanHorn said that people should not only contact their local police to report these types of incidents but also go to the following web sites for more information: phonebusters.com or ic3.gov