The Brentwood Union School District sent out an email today looking to provide an update to an email hoax that threatens violence on an unnamed school.
According to the email, the Brentwood Police Department did not find the hoax to be viable and that it was coming from overseas.
“People expect to hear from us anytime something like this comes up and so we want to be proactive with our communications to our community,” said Eaton who received two-email threats in his inbox.
In Oakley, Superintendent Greg Hetrick also sent out a letter to parents regarding the hoax and confirming it was from overseas.
In another area, the Emeryville Police Department released a press release stating their initial investigation of this threat indicates this threat does not have any merit and is a hoax generated out of a dare within an overseas on-line gaming community to see who could generate the most school evacuations in the UK and the USA.
Here is a copy of the letter:
Dear BUSD Staff and Parents,
The Brentwood Union School District is one many California school districts, including several school districts in Alameda and Contra Costa County, who have received what appears to be an email hoax that threatens violence on an unnamed school. There is no indication that there is any reason to believe our schools are in any danger. The threat does not target a specific school, person, date or time. After receiving the email this morning, BUSD immediately contacted the Brentwood Police Department. The Brentwood Police Department did not find the threat to be viable, but did pass the information on to the regional federal and state cyber task force.
Through our contacts, we were able to verify that several other school districts received the same exact, word-for-word, email threat from the same email address. Preliminary information indicates that this email is from an international hacking group that has also targeted UK schools with similar threats.
In an abundance of caution, we wanted to share this information with you as part of our ongoing efforts to keep you informed. Please know that that the safety and security of our students, staff and schools continue to be our top priority.
Sincerely,
Dana Eaton, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Brentwood Union School District
