Death Threats by SMS Hits Australia

A spam SMS message is being circulated in Australia which is threatening to kill the recipients unless a ransom is paid. Local media reports that significant numbers of West Australians have received the death threats by text since last Saturday.

A typical message supplied by WA Police read: "Someone paid me to kill you. If you want me to spare you, I'll give you two days to pay $5000. If you inform the police or anybody, you will die. I am monitoring you".

The scammer is also providing a contact details in Thailand for the recipient to send the payment details to.

"This is simply a fraudulent scam," Detective Sergeant Duncan Taylor said. "People don't need to be concerned with these threats.

No specific network operator seemed to be targeted and it is thought that the senders are targeting random phone numbers.

Posted to the site on 1st July 2008