Mobile phone users in Queensland and Western Australia have been targeted by a bizarre text message scam involving a fake hitman. The text messages threatens to kill the recipient unless money is transferred within 2 days.

Police have responded by blocking Western Union transfers to the persons address as well as issuing a statement warning people not to respond to the message.

The text message asks the recipient to send money to Assana Mizele Patrick, it reads: “Someone paid me to kill you. If you want me to spare you, I give you 2 days to pay 5000 dollars. If you inform the police or anybody, you will die, I am monitoring you.”

Apparently thousands of users have been alarmed by fake message over the last few weeks.