A Maryland State Police spokesman says a recent e-mail circulated on the Internet to media outlets advising motorists to be on the lookout for people posing as stranded motorists on Interstates 68 and 70 was a hoax that has been ongoing for the past two to three weeks.

“Unfortunately, they’ve dragged us into this, but our intelligence departmenthas looked into the matter and deemed it a hoax,” said Sgt. Russell Newell.

Newell said a similar e-mail is sent out periodically “where they change an element or two” to make it more believable.

He said “with technology being as it is,” someone sent the e-mail and ignited public concern.

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“It was initially directed at government in Maryland and the focus was on [state] troopers out west,” Newell said of the e-mail. “It was just someone hiding behind the Internet and causing distress in the community.”

Newell added that no origin has been determined for the e-mail and he was unsure how the matter would be pursued.

drowley@baltimoreexaminer.com