AVON and Somerset Police is urging residents to "always question the source" of anything you share on social media.

This includes posts about holiday getaways which seem too good to be true and even missing pet appeals. 

A spokesperson from Avon and Somerset Police said: "***Injured dog found; can you help? Please share***

"If you’re a social media user, you might have seen messages like this.

"A post appears, often on local selling sites or community pages, asking people to share news of a lost or found pet.

"It may be shared by hundreds of people, just like you, who want to see this beloved pet back home.

"However, there was never a missing pet.

"The post has been created by a fraudster, often using photos they found on the internet.

"The fraudster can then change the post to anything they want to, so by the time your friends see it, they might see a post about a prize draw, or what seems like a good deal on a holiday property which doesn’t exist.

"Fraudsters know that missing/injured pets will tug at people’s heartstrings. Sadly, they exploit this, overshadowing genuine missing pet posts.

"They also know your friends are far more likely to trust a post shared by you. 

"Always question the source of anything you share on social media.

"If you have experienced fraud, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via: www.actionfraud.police.uk. For more advice on staying safe on social media, visit: Stop! Think Fraud – How to stay safe from scams."

The Gov.UK website explains how anyone can be a victim of fraud: "Fraud accounts for almost 40% of all crime. In just one year, 1 in 17 adults in England and Wales were victims of fraud.

"That’s nearly 3 million of us.

"1 in 5 businesses were also a victim of fraud over a 3 year period.

"In other words, fraud is rife and it can happen to anyone.

"Fraudsters can use highly manipulative methods to get us when our defences are down. Nobody is immune from fraud. We can all be more alert to the risks, and we can all do more to protect ourselves."