New Zealand authorities issued a warning on Monday about an international email "hit-man scam" that warns recipients they will be killed if they do not pay thousands of dollars to a cyber extortionist.
"This is a particularly vicious email scam with the potential to really worry people and it demonstrates how far scammers will go to get your money," said Consumer Affairs Minister Judith Tizard.
The email suggests that somebody wants the recipient dead and has hired the writer to kill him or her but the "contract" can be cancelled if they pay anything between 1 000 and 100 000 New Zealand dollars (about R6 300 and R636 000).
The recipient is told not to contact the police or tell anyone about the message or the death threat will be extended to family members.
Tizard said the email had been sent to thousands of addresses in the United States and Australia and recently in New Zealand. - Sapa-dpa