Australians told to pay $5,000 - or face death

Thousands of Australians have been stunned to receive a death threat text demanding they pay $5,000 Australian dollars to stay alive.

A number of people have fallen for the scam, which tells people they will be murdered if they don't send the money on - and police have been shocked by the scale of the con.

The message reads: "Sum1 paid me to kill you. Get spared, 48hrs to pay $5000. If you inform the police or anybody, death is promised. (sic)"

But police have warned people not to reply to the text and to delete it immediately.

Speaking at a press conference at Queensland, Brian Hay, Queensland Detective Superintendent, said: “Do not respond. Delete it immediately and don’t panic … because that’s what they prey upon.”