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Fake news posts on social media are claiming Rowan Atkinson has died - and they are going viral.

Brits are being urged to be wary of the false reports, according to the Chronicle, which wrongly suggest the iconic Mr Bean actor died in a car crash in Los Angeles.

The posts are being circulated widely on Facebook and Twitter.

But, worryingly for social networking platform users, the posts are fake.

They reportedly link to a scam website which can give your computer a virus.

The posts appear to be published by Fox News - but this is phony.

Their headline reads: “FOX BREAKING NEWS: ‘Mr. Bean (Rowan Atkinson)’ died at 62 After Crashing his Car on Attempt perfecting a Stunt - Today July, 2017”.

If you see the post on your timeline, do not click on it.

It is not by Fox News, and the video it prompts does not exist.

Myth debunking site Hoax Slayer say some of the links will direct you to fake security error pages, which claim your computer has been locked and ask you to ring a support number.

Hoax Slayer says you should definitely NOT call that number.

They say: “You will be prompted to call a ‘support number’ urgently to seek help with the supposed security issue.

"However, if you do call as instructed, tech support scammers will try to trick you into giving them your credit card details, ostensibly to pay for the repair of your computer.

"The scammers may also try to trick you into downloading software that will allow them to take control of your computer, steal your files, and install malware.”