[attach id=432891 size="medium" align="left"]One of the text messages received. Several variations of the message are being received by callers, the police said.[/attach]

The police have asked people to be wary of text messages asking them to immediately call a foreign emergency number.

Several variations of the message are being sent and the police emergency number 112 is currently bombarded with calls from people saying they are receiving this or a similar message.

"It is highly unlikely that any emergency service will contact you about a pressing matter in this way.

"Calling this number may result in costly international telephone charges.

"Please spread the word as we are receiving several calls from alarmed individuals," the police said.

The police also urged people not to call 112 when they receive the SMS message. 

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