Ewart Brown, a former Premier, said today that his image is being falsely used to promote an online scam posted on Facebook.

Dr Brown said that an image bearing his likeness was used in an advert to promote a product. He did not say what the product was.

Dr Brown said: "Users of Facebook might have recently seen an advertisement bearing my likeness.

“I can confirm that this is something that I have neither endorsed nor am in any way associated. By all indications, this is an online scam, and my team has reported it to Facebook.

"The public should be cautious and vigilant while online and know that I would never attempt to obtain money or confidential information from any member of the public."