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Karin Malchow

Scam Examiner
Gullible suburban mother of four regularly duped in her half-century life. Exploring hoaxes and schemes as the ExSCAMiner, she attempts answering the nagging question: Should I have fallen for that? Got scam tips, email Karin at ScamExaminer@gmail.com.
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    Showing entries for Category: hitman


    Killer text message scam hits Australia

    POSTED July 1, 11:19 PM
    Karin Malchow - Scam Examiner
    SUBSCRIBE

    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.

     

    A Twist (at least in the U.S.): A later text claiming to be the FBI arresting the suspect asks for personal information to assist in "the investigation." 
    Topics: E-mail , text message , hitman