Ramsey-based ice cream shop Gelatory has been targeted by scammers who have set up a fake Facebook account using its name.

The scam account has been targeting people by sending Facebook messages telling them that they are the winners of a prize event, and to click on a link where they can register their name on a website in order for the prize to be sent to them.

Whilst the official Gelatory Facebook page is a business page which can be ’liked’, the scam account appears to be a fake profile using Gelatory’s name and logo, which is sending friend requests to potential victims.

Gelatory posted pictures of the fake account with the message: ’This is absolutely not us.

’Please do not engage with this account and help us by reporting it and spreading this message.

’Can’t quite believe somebody has gone to such an effort to do this and scam our followers.

’To whoever is behind it, next time you’re bored can we suggest a game of Monopoly or something rather than ripping off somebody’s business to try and fraud people.’

Education Minister and Ramsey MHK Dr Alex Allinson tweeted: ’Gelatory is a fantastic local business and it is a real shame that it’s customers in Ramsey and across the island have been targeted by criminals.’

The police have urged anyone who may have fallen victim to this scam to alert their banks immediately and to report it via the cyber crime links at www.iompolice.im