The FBI said Thursday that it is investigating a number of “offensive and racist” text messages sent to Black people around the U.S.

“The FBI is aware of the offensive and racist text messages sent to individuals around the country and is in contact with the Justice Department and other federal authorities on the matter,” the bureau said in a statement.

“As always, we encourage members of the public to report threats of physical violence to local law enforcement authorities,” it added.

The Associated Press reported that the messages were sent to Black people, including women and children, in states including Alabama, California, Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, and Tennessee. CNN reported that people in Maryland, New Jersey, and South Carolina also said they received texts.

The Federal Communications Commission also said it was looking into the matter, as did the Ohio attorney general’s office, according to the AP.

NBC News reported that dozens of Black people around the country have said they received the messages, which were sent shortly after the 2024 presidential election.

President-elect Donald Trump won the race by notching 295 Electoral Votes, easily clearing the 270-vote threshold required to seal the presidency.

According to NBC, the text messages sent to Black people made references to slavery and included phrases like cotton-picking and plantations.

Some of the recipients were in college and high school, and some were in middle school, the AP reported.

One woman, Monèt Miller, told NBC News that she received a text on Wednesday morning, shortly after the election was called for Trump.

“Greetings Monet M, You have been selected to pick cutton [sic] at the nearest plantation,” the text message said, per a screenshot provided to NBC. “Be ready at 12PM SHARP with your belongings. Our Executive Slaves will come get you in a Brown Van, be prepared to be searched down once you’ve enter the plantation. You are in Plantation Group S.”