Shanghai police have warned local residents not to believe rumors of " the end of the world," and avoid of being cheated.

According to the Mayan calendar, Dec 21 will be the last day of the world - and this has made many people seriously scared.

Shanghai police said it received 25 reports from the city's eight districts from Dec 5 to Dec 6 that some people were spreading the rumor that the world is about to end.

The police department said on its micro blog on Sina Weibo on Dec 6 that the story of "the end of the world" is mere rumor and residents should not trust it.

Residents should be careful about being cheated, police said.