EastEnders bosses have issued an important message to fans about online scammers impersonating cast and crew online.

The BBC soap warned followers on Instagram followers to watch out for people claiming to be from the show sending messages requesting money or trying to set up set visits.

In a social media post, fans were told: ‘Please note that no cast member or EastEnders employee will ever make contact to request money for meetings, messages, set visits or any other interactions.

‘If you have been contacted, especially on social media platforms via a direct message or mass message posted to a group, please ensure you report these instances to the relevant platform immediately.’

Earlier this month, rival ITV soaps Emmerdale and Coronation Street issued fans with a similar warning about actors being ‘impersonated by scammers across all social media platforms’.

They said: ‘No cast member will ever directly request money for messages, meetings or any kind of personal interaction on social media.

‘We are aware these sophisticated impersonations can include deep-fake footage (where it appears to be the actor talking but isn’t) and personal messages which seem to be realistic and in character. We urge everybody to be vigilant. Please report any concerns to the relevant platform.’

They concluded: ‘The legitimate way of meeting with real members of the cast is via official ‘meet and greet’ events run by ITV Star Tours.’

EastEnders recently featured a storyline that saw Walford favourite Jean Slater (Gillian Wright) being targeted by scammers.

Fans saw her lose all of her savings last year when scammers got her to put her money into a fake investment.

Jean then announced to her daughter Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) that she was in contact with a solicitor who planned to help her, but it turned out she had been scammed for a second time