Hamilton Academical and Hearts have been hit by internet fraud

Hearts have joined Hamilton Academical in confirming that they have been hit by an elaborate internet fraud.

Hearts become the second Scottish Premiership side to confirm the news following Hamilton who earlier on Friday said they had lost a "substantial sum of monies" as a result of the crime.

A statement of the Hearts website said: "Heart of Midlothian can confirm it was the subject of an internet fraud earlier this year.

"The matter is now part of an active police investigation and therefore no further comment will be made."

Hamilton Academical confirmed that a criminal investigation is ongoing and details of the plot will not be divulged until initial inquiries have been made.

Hamilton say the club's directors are inputting new funds to keep help with the ongoing costs and have urged calm as the Police Service Scotland get the probe underway.

"The Police Service Scotland and our bank are working closely with the club conducting a criminal investigation to pursue those individuals responsible," the Hamilton club statement read.

"At this point it is imperative that we remain calm and work together as we go through one of the most difficult situations we have faced as a club.

"In the interim, the directors intend to inject funds to meet the club's ongoing obligations until the investigation is complete to ensure continuity.

"It is our intention to host a media briefing to go into more detail when the initial legal and banking investigations reveal the facts. This will allow us to give full disclosure of the event.

"No further comment will be made at this time as the Police investigation continues."