Did this scam ever happen with these?

Old scam, new continent.

Australian media reports the text messaging incarnation of the hitman scam recently moved Down Under.

The e-mail stating:  "Someone paid me to kill you.  If you want me to spare you, I'll give you two days to pay $5,000.  If you inform the police or anybody, you will die, I am monitoring you" is now:

"Sum1 paid me 2 kil u.  if u wnt me 2 spare u, IL giv u 48hrs 2 pay 5k.  if u in4m de 5-o or NEbody, Ull di, Im monitring u." 

Or something like that.

One local officer said, "Australians are generally gullible targets.  (The scammers) do very well out of us."  Announcing that as a cultural trait seems a bit ill-advised.

Anyone experiencing a messy divorce, lawsuit or stalker might find the immediacy of a cell phone message more threatening than e-mail.  Someone might really be watching.  Except in this case no one is.  The payoff instructions include Western Union wire transfer directions to Thailand.