BERWICK - Extra police officers are guarding Berwick Area School District schools today after school officials learned about a threat to the middle school - even though police say it appears to be part of a nationwide hoax.

Meanwhile, Bloomsburg Police said they were increasing patrols at all Bloomsburg schools. The threat mentioned a vague "BMS."

Berwick Superintendent Wayne Brookhart said the district was notifiying parents early Thursday morning.

Berwick Police said the threat did not appear credible, but they were working with other agencies to take precautions anyway.

"The exact wording from the threat and person to have allegedly made it are taken directly from a hoax that has been spreading nationwide for the past 18 hours," a posting on the department's website said. "Again, we do not believe the threat to be credible, but as we take the safety of our children very seriously, there will be an increased police presence at our local schools that has been coordinated with multiple local and state agencies."

The threat came in the form of a screen shot that appeared to be a Facebook Messenger message or a text from a Ray Andres.

In it, the person said he wouldn't be giving his real name, but that "Yes BMS is the school I want." He went on to say he would bring a gun to school and warned "be prepared to heat (sic) shots."

But those exact words - with the name of the school changed - were being reported in threats nationwide.  News stories quoting the same words were being reported from Bakersfield, California to Springdale, Arkansas.

Worried local parents posted the screenshot on Facebook, some saying they wouldn't send their children to school in light of the threat.