Police in Maryland warn residents of threatening text message scams.

'Police throughout Maryland are warning residents of a threatening text message scam they say can erase data from mobile phones.

The text messages read "I've been paid to kill you but wish to spare you, inform the police or anyone else you will die, to be spared contact vsdky@hotmail.com immediately via email," according to the Harford County Sheriff's Office.

Residents in Baltimore and Baltimore, Harford and Carroll counties have reported receiving the message.

State police urged anyone who receives the text against responding. Replying to the message leaves a device susceptible to a data hack.

Police say recipients should simply delete it.

"We've gotten several complaints and are simply advising the public that scams, particularly Internet and over cell phones, are getting increasingly direct, which entices an individual into thinking it's real, when in fact [it] most always isn't," Carroll County Sheriff Jim DeWees said.'>>>

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/bs-md-text-scam-20161227-story.html