Death Threat SMS Spreads in Australia

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has received complaints of SMS messages which contain death threats if the recipient ignores the message. The ACMA has confirmed that the SMS messages are originating from an overseas location.

"Undoubtedly, a member of the public may be distressed to receive such a message, but they should not be alarmed," said Chris Chapman, Chairman of the ACMA. "These threats are a particularly nasty type of scam. The messages should simply be ignored - they are intended to frighten recipients into providing money, credit card details and personal information to the scammer. If you receive messages of this type, report them to the ACMA."

An example of the message reads: "I am about to kill you. If you want to live, contact (xxxxxx.com) to get information on what you will have to do to live. If you ignore this message, you will die!''

Recipients are urged to ignore the messages and, under no circumstances reply to the scammers, disclose any personal information, or pay money.

Attempts to extort money by sending death threats by SMS are not that uncommon, and indeed there was a spate of them in Australia last July. Another variant that did the rounds a couple of years ago was an SMS claiming that if the reader answered their phone when it next rang, they would die.

Posted to the site on 1st July 2009