If you've had an email in the last few days inviting you to view a file on Google Docs, it may well be a fake.

Internet security experts are urging caution over scam emails that have been spreading like wildfire across the internet.

The emails appear to be from someone the recipient knows and will have a subject line ending '... has shared a document on Google Docs with you'.

They include a button which, if clicked, sends you to a genuine Google sign-in page - but the application asking you for permission to use your account is not the real Google Docs.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

Chris Boyd, malware researcher at Malwarebytes, explained: "This outbreak of spam is a combination of self-inflicted wound and Google not preventing individuals from naming their apps after genuine Google services.

"Although the initial spam mail directs potential victims to a real Google page, the problem is the screen afterwards which isn't the real Google Docs asking for permission to 'Read, send, delete and manage mail', but rather a third party app someone has named 'Google Docs'.

"From there, the spam invite message is sent to people on their contact list."

If you've clicked the link, the good news is that it won't have done any real damage - except maybe to your reputation! All that'll happen is that your email address will be used to spread the spam further.

Even so, you'll want to get rid of it - and the usual advice of changing the password on your account doesn't apply.

Chris said: "As the victim has given permission to the app, two factor authentication or even changing password won't help here - they'd have to go to the page controlling apps tied to their Google account, and revoke permission."

He added: "If in doubt next time, click the down arrow next to the product name to see who the developer is - if it isn't Google, you may want to steer clear."