Conscription letter circulating on social media is a hoax, Army says

A hoax letter claiming to inform individuals they have been conscripted into the British Army has been circulated online from an unknown source.

The letter, which appears with the British Army's logo at the top, states that as the "situation in Ukraine is dire", and the result of "war crimes being committed by Vladimir Putin", the Army was "starting conscription and training on a limited number of civilians".

"You have been chosen as one of the first section of soldiers to be drafted to training," the letter reads.

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"This draft has been conducted on random civilians who qualify. We must state the importance of this letter and that conscription is mandatory.

"The avoidance or failure to comply will result in criminal charges (maximum six-year sentence)."

The letter also outlined that those who received the letter must report to their nearest recruitment center by 8 December, but not inform employers or other members of the public of their "conscription".

The hoax letter was also 'signed' by the Head of the Army General Sir Patrick Sanders on behalf of King Charles.

In response, the British Army said it had "no association" with the hoax letter.

"It has been bought to our attention that a letter is being circulated on social media purporting to be from the Army, informing individuals that they have been conscripted into the Armed Forces," an Army spokesman said.

"This letter is a hoax, and the Army has no association with it whatsoever."