The State Department has apologised after igniting a social media controversy over a tweet designed to be a travel tip, but instead seemed to warn not-so-attractive people they could be robbed.

An official State Department account offered various travel tips under the hashtag #springbreakingbadly, but one tweet warning travelers of overseas scams set off a backlash across Twitter for being offensive.

"Not a '10' in the US? Then not a 10 overseas. Beware of being lured into buying expensive drinks or worse—being robbed. #springbreakingbadly," it read.

Soon after, people across Twitter made fun of the poorly thought-out tip.

"Stop spending my tax money on calling me ugly," tweeted lonelygirl15.

Others, like actor and writer B.J. Novak from The Office tweeted: "What about being "hot in Cleveland," is that real?"

Another person set up a mock Travel Gov tweet with a "portable attractiveness scale if you are not near a trusted state department official but fear #springbreakingbadly"

The State Department deleted the tweet and issued a two-tweet apology on the account.

"Some have been offended by our earlier tweet and we apologize that it came off negatively," the department said. "We see many Americans fall victim to scams each year & want all to be careful while traveling."