Vic councillors get threats, abusive texts

Threatening, sexual messages are being regularly sent to some female Victorian councillors whose mobile numbers are publicly available to voters.

They say the volume of such messages has risen in recent years as social media has increased the ways in which people can contact others.

Maribyrnong councillor Catherine Cumming says she expected strong opinions during her 18 years in the role, but this went too far.

"I don't believe I signed up to be abused," she told AAP on Monday.

"I have never signed up for people to make very lewd, sexual advances towards me."

She regularly replies to such messages, telling the senders what they're doing is wrong.

"Sometimes they apologise, other times they continue it on," she said.

Fellow Maribyrnong councillor Sarah Carter said she received a message last week from a man in Africa, who said he was from Footscray and if she valued her life she better help him because he knew where she lived.

Such messages were making her have second thoughts about providing her number for local residents to call.

"We're so publicly available," Ms Carter said.

Both councillors are torn about making their contact details private as they also want to be available to local residents who need advice or help.

Ms Cumming has reported her messages to police, and has been advised not to respond to anyone without a caller ID.