Police are warning anyone buying tickets to the London Olympics or para-Olympic Games to be wary of scammers.

According to the London Metropolitan Police, a number of illegitimate websites are in operation, claiming to sell tickets for this summer's Games.

However, the police say that only one website, www.london2012.com, is entitled to sell tickets for the Games.

It warns anyone ordering tickets from unofficial sources that there is no guarantee they will receive the goods.

If, however, consumers have bought tickets from unofficial websites, they are urged to verify their payment method and inform the provider of this payment method, be it their bank, credit card company or paypal.

Fraudulent operations such as these are thought to be operating around Europe, the US, Canada, Australia and China.