POLICE have issued a warning over fake emails which could take you to 'malicious' websites.

Officers warn that the email might 'look real' but could in fact cause 'considerable harm to your computer and yourself'.

Dorchester Police has issued an example of what a 'phishing' or 'scam' email might look like in your inbox.

The image shows an email pretending to be from the Government offering an energy grant payment.

Dorset Echo: A scam email pretending to be from the UK Government offering an energy payment to the recipientA scam email pretending to be from the UK Government offering an energy payment to the recipient (Image: Dorchester Police)

By clicking on the sent address at the top - 'Energy grant From UK ' - this reveals the email address that it has actually been sent from.

If the 'start now' link on the original email had been clicked on, this would have led to a fake Government website, where details including bank card details would have been requested.

"Email is both an excellent communication tool and also a way that companies can inform you about their latest products and services," Dorchester Police said on social media.

"However, email is frequently used to deliver unwanted material which is at best, annoying and at worst, malicious – causing considerable harm to your computer and yourself.

"An email might look real, but it may in fact be a fake email asking you to click onto a malicious website and trick you into giving criminals your personal data."

For more information on how to spot fake emails and what to do if you have lost money as a result of scams, visit https://crowd.in/ALQqCD/