FAKE model scouts are conning people over social media, fraud investigators have warned.

Victims are being targeted by seemingly legitimate adverts on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, as well as job browsing websites, say officials from Action Fraud and the National Fraud Intelligence Burea (NFIB).

The victims believe they are being recruited as models.

Once they show an interest in the 'job', fraudsters make contact with the false promise of a career in modelling and invite the victim for a test shoot.

The fraudster may then pressurise the victim into sending an upfront fee to book a slot for the shoot.

Once the fee is received, the victim will never hear from the 'scout' again.

The fraudsters may also take the advance fee sent for the photo shoot and then arrange for the session to take place.

After the shoot, the victim will be contacted again with an offer of a job as a model.

The victim will then be asked to sign a contract and pay another upfront fee, usually to secure the contract.

Fake adverts are also being created for supposed modelling opportunities for children.

Parents are informed that their child is to be a model before the fraudsters ask for an advance fee.

Nationally, an average of 28 reports of advance fee modelling frauds are made every month.

In August 2017, 49 Action Fraud reports of this type were received. The total loss in this month was more than £71,000.