AN eagle-eyed reader has helped Dartmouth Academy avoid a heartless scam.

As reported in last week's Chronicle, the academy's students were excited to be offered the opportunity to perform on an 'X Factor single' after being contacted by 'organisers' in May.

They were offered the chance to take part in a large recording event at the ExCel Centre, London, in November for a supposed Christmas charity single involving X Factor participants.

Excited students signed up for the trip – and the academy even announced the trip on its Facebook page and through a press release. But a member of the community, who visited the academy's Facebook page, saw the post and wondered if it was the same event that had been revealed as a scam elsewhere in the country.

They contacted the academy by posting a reply on its Facebook page and it was then discovered to be the same scam.

Thanks to the intervention the academy sent no money to the scammers, who are now being investigated by trading standards officers. All money collected from students will now be returned.

Academy principal Nick Hindmarsh said: 'Although it's a great disappointment for the students who had signed up for this event, we are delighted our Facebook page has allowed us to avoid sending any money to these heartless scammers.

'It is a great example of how a good communications system, using social media, has helped us to find out about this just in time. Many thanks to the member of the community who let us know.'

A trading standards spokesman said: 'A company claiming to be the X Factor is asking for schools to register their interest to become involved with their annual charity single.

'Schools are invited to attend a Christmas recording taking place on November 16 at the ExCel Centre, London. 

'The company is requesting payment of £10 per person.

'We can confirm after speaking to the X Factor and ITV that this is a scam. They would not approach schools in this manner and they would not ask for payment.

'Emails may have come from info@

xfactorchristmas.com, communications manager Jessica Weller.'