Police in Lelystad have warned that scammers are misusing one of the local force’s own social media competitions to steal people’s bank details.

The force launched a giveaway on Friday on Instagram and Facebook, offering participants the chance to win a reflective dog collar featuring the word “politie” to make sure their pooches can be seen at night.

However, a fake account has since appeared, claiming the winners have already been selected and asking people to submit their personal and banking information for their prize.

Police say the message is fraudulent and are urging people not to share any details.

The winners, they say, will only be announced via the Lelystad police official social media channels on Monday, and the collars will be handed over in person.

The competition has already drawn more than 250 reactions from dog owners hoping to win a collar for their dogs.