The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is warning internet users of spam emails claiming to come from internet hit men.

Last month the IC3 noticed a marked increase in spam emails claiming that a contract had been taken out on the recipient and offering to cancel it in exchange for cash.

Personal information about the recipient was occasionally added to increase the realism of the threat.

“Unfortunately, these hit man email scams are still circulating and evolving throughout the internet,” said Special Agent Richard Kolko of the National Press Office in Washington, DC.

“Don’t get ‘knocked off’ by these cyber criminals who are trying everything they can to access your money and personal information. Instead, protect yourself by reporting any messages you get to the FBI through the IC3 at www.IC3.gov.”

One email in particular has been showing up with very specific demands. The recipient is warned that a ‘loved one’ has been targeted and is told to call a telephone number within the next 48 hours.

The caller is given a wire transfer account to send the money to and an exact time at which to make the transfer. Harm is promised if the target does not comply.

Hit man emails have been surfacing for a year or so now, but the recent increase in their volume has prompted the FBI to issue the alert.