Users of Snapchat are being warned about people falsely posing as legitimate modelling agencies attempting to contact young girls and women on the social network.

BBC reports that teenage girls in the UK are being told they could earn up to £50,000 (€58,000) for photoshoots, and have been asked to send on headshots and in some cases nude or lingerie pictures.

There are also warnings that some of those behind the fake accounts could try to get some young people to pay for expensive photoshoots.

The Belfast-based ACA Models have taken to their Facebook page to warn about a fake Snapchat account set up under their name, where some users of the social network were sent messages from a fictitious head of recruitment.

"We do not send out requests for people to join on any social media platform or stop people in the street," the warning stresses. "Please be careful."

On Twitter, former Miss Northern Ireland Leanne McDowell posted a copy of one of the fake messages:

If 'ACAmodels1' add you on snapchat DO NOT ACCEPT! This is some creep with no life. Obviously not the real @ACAmodels !!! pic.twitter.com/lry2pZSiMA

— Leanne McDowell (@LeanneMcDowell_) November 13, 2016

The London-based Base Models told BBC it had received reports from more than 40 girls that they had been contacted by accounts claiming to represent the company.

The agency warns on their website that "there are many individuals, fake photographers and scouts using the internet claiming to be affiliated or members of Base Models."

Last month, Scottish police said a 15-year-old girl was contacted by a man on Instagram who claimed to be from Base Models.

"The male asked the female to expose herself to him via Skype and asked her inappropriate sexual questions," police said in a warning on Facebook.

Anybody contacted by such fake accounts are urged to contact police and the social network involved.