The National Lottery Community Fund is urging Twitter users to be on the lookout for an online scam
Lottery fund bosses have warned social media followers to be on the lookout for an online scam.
The National Lottery Community Fund has received reports that fraudsters have been posing as the organisation on Twitter.
The scammers have been contacting individuals to say they, or their organisations, have been chosen to receive large sums of money from the fund.
However the fund has stressed that it only gives funding to those who have applied directly, and has urged social media users not to respond to the fraudsters.
A spokesman said: “We are aware that a number of customers have received fraudulent communications via Twitter from someone using our name. These messages state that individuals have been chosen to receive a large sum of money, for themselves or for their organisation.
“These messages have been fraudulently generated by people misusing our name and the names of our staff, and do not represent the National Lottery Community Fund in any way.
“The National Lottery Community Fund does not give away donations or prize money. We award money raised by the National Lottery players to good causes across the UK, and grants will only be awarded to people and organisations who have applied directly to us.”
Those who have been contacted are advised not to respond, and contact Action Fraud if they fear they have fallen victim to the scam.
I just received the fraudulent message that I had won one million. I knew this was a hoax. Said his name is Neil Harris, Corp. Service, Director Lottery Comm Fund