WhatsApp users have been warned to be on the lookout for a scam message which claims to offer people the chance to win a cooler of beer in time for Father's Day.
The fake contest is said to be spreading "like wildfire" across groups and messages on the app, according to fraud experts.
The sham contest will appear as a WhatsApp message from a friend or contact in the form of a ' tinyurl' link.
The message features an image of an 18-pack cooler of Heineken captioned 'Heineken Beer Father's Day Contest 2022'.
Underneath the image and headline will be the phrase "5,000 coolers full of Heineken for you Dad" along with written link to the beer giant's official website "heineken.com."
But according to scam alert website onlinethreatalerts.com, the online fraud - which is said to be circulating on social media like "wildfire" - tricks potential victims.
It uses a link to lure people into visiting phishing, spam, and malicious websites that have the potential to steal personal information and account credentials, reports Wales Online.
The scam may also trick potential victims into signing up for unwanted services.
The site goes on to warn that people will be taken to one of these fraudulent websites if they click the link in the fake post.
The websites are being used in phishing and scamming campaigns which are setup by cybercriminals that actively lure unaware users into traps with the fake promise of vouchers.
A spokesperson for Heineken said: “We’re aware of the current phishing scam circulating through social networks, which is not sanctioned by Heineken.
"We have alerted the relevant authorities, and urge people who do receive this message to delete it immediately.”
The latest scam echoes a similar fake Heineken contest which circulated online in 2020.
That competition promised people the chance to win "free kegs of Heineken beer".
It led Heineken to releasing a statement warning people not to fall victim to the phishing scam.
The beer manufacturer also revealed at the time that it had been reported to Action Fraud.
To report a scam, visit actionfraud.police.uk.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here
