Ferne McCann has been in contact with the police to investigate leaked voice notes that were allegedly sent.
Former The Only Way Is Essex star Ferne, 32, has spoken to the authorities in an effort to try and identify who is behind the anonymous account sharing the voice notes on social media.
Ferne, who is said to have been confronted by Billie Faiers over the voice notes, is said to be feeling 'devastated' by the leaks as her life has been 'turned upside down'.
Earlier this week, an anonymous Instagram account posted audio clips depicting a person, allegedly said to be Ferne, making a series of comments about Sam and Billie Faiers, which were branded "vile" by the Faiers sisters' mum Suzie Wells.
In one audio clip, reportedly made a month after Sam welcomed her third child, the voice calls Sam a "fat c***".
It adds: "Her thighs are so big and I looked really skinny today."
Meanwhile, another leaked voice note appeared to show Fern calling Sam, 31, a "narcissistic b***h".
A third, separate voice note appears to allegedly show Ferne taking a swipe at Billie Faiers over her son being given the same name as Ferne's jailed ex Arthur Collins.
In the voice note, Ferne allegedly says: "It feels so weird saying 'Arthur', I can't believe, it's like me having a little boy and calling him Greg, anyway, whatever."
Now, Ferne is said to have been visited by police to investigate the person behind the anonymous Instagram account.
An Essex Police spokesperson told the Mirror: "We are investigating a report of malicious communication which was made to us in Brentwood on Thursday 29 September.
"We have spoken to the victim, a woman aged in her 30s, and our enquiries are ongoing."
Meanwhile, a source has told The Sun: "Ferne was visited by the police on Thursday night after having her life turned upside down by a fake account that has launched a malicious smear campaign against her.
"Officers spent a few hours with her and gave reassurances that they are prioritising this case, tracking the parties responsible.
"Having taken statements, the police are currently in the process of tracking the fake account’s whereabouts.
"The Online Safety Bill was discussed as they clamp down on cyber crime."
Mirror have contacted Ferne's representatives and Essex Police for comment.
Ferne and Sam grew up together in Essex and starred in TOWIE together.
However, the pair are said to have fell out when Ferne launched her own reality show, Ferne McCann: First Time Mum, as Sam reportedly believed she was "copying" her.
The pair were reported to have reconciled their friendship at Billie's Ibiza hen do in 2018 but, the alleged leaked voice notes are said to have caused another rift.
Sam and Billie's mum Suzie, 53, shared a statement reacting to the alleged voice notes.
She wrote on her Instagram story: "So after a few days of hurt and upset, I can no longer sit back and say nothing.
"This has come as a complete shock to myself and my family.
"Ferne has always been a very close family member to all of us over the past 20 years.
"It appears the voice note was sent just weeks after Samantha gave birth back in May."
Suzie went on: "Since the voice note has surfaced more have been sent - very upsetting nasty things.
"We are as shocked as you are! Nobody should ever speak about their friends like this ever!
"My girls are my absolute everything and I'll do anything to protect them.
"I don't have anything else to say on the matter."
