Michael Jackson’s family is scared that his dead body might be stolen after receiving weird notes from fans, sources say.

The Jacksons also fear chances that crime lords may be looking at an opportunity to kidnap the icon’s corpse and ask for ransom.

“Michael’s mother Katherine is probably living in fear someone will steal his body and thinks there is no place on earth her son can be safe,” the Herald Sun quoted a source as saying.

The insider said: “There are fears organised criminals will steal his body and try to hold it for ransom. There are a lot of desperate people out there who believe Michael’s corpse would bring a king’s ransom.”

Some of the letters wild fans have sent to the family reportedly states that they want to “sleep on top of his grave to be close to him”; some have even begged for strands of his hair.

The Jackson family has apparently enlisted a team of guards to watch over the late singer’s remains.

According to a source, a gang in Latin America is planning to capture the body.

The source said: “Michael had a massive following in Latin America. We’ve heard there’s a gang plotting to fly to Los Angeles, steal the body, then take it back to their country and keep it for themselves.”

Jackson’s memorial took place at Los Angeles’ Staples Center on July 7 but he still remains to be buried.