Death threat email labelled a scam | Canterbury News | Local News in Canterbury

Scammers are using a new tactic to fleece people out of money - death threats.

An email doing the rounds in Christchurch is threatening people that a hit has been put on their life by a so-called friend.

But it then goes on to say their life can be spared if they are prepared to pay $5000.

The email, sent by an 'Abdullah Azzam' starts by saying: "I felt sorry and bad for you, that your life is going to end like this if you don't comply. I was paid to eliminate you and I have within 10 days. Someone you call your friend wants you dead by all means, and the person has spent a lot of money on this."

It then says the so-called friend provided them with the "necessary information", including a photograph, to aid their mission.

"My men are monitoring you, their eyes are on you. Do you want to live or die? It is up to you. Get back to me now if you are ready to enter a deal with

me.

"You will first of all pay $2000 then I will send the tape of the person that wants you dead to you and when the tape gets to you, you will pay the remaining $3000... then you can use it to take any

legal action."

The email also warns them not to contact the police.

But police have received two reports about the email.

Constable Chris Caldwell said it was the first time he had seen the email doing the rounds but it was similar to previous Nigerian scams, aside from the death threat.

He said the first person who reported the email sounded "a wee bit concerned", while the other brought in a copy to inform police.

Constable Caldwell's advice to people was to simply delete the email.

"People should just delete it, it's just a scam."