Oscar rep: 'Leaked winner's list is fake'

A leaked winner's list for this year's Oscars has been branded a "complete fraud" by organisers.

Earlier this week, a document surfaced that appeared to reveal the recipients of awards at Sunday night's event. It was thought to be authentic because it was signed by Academy President Sid Ganis.

Speaking to E! News, spokesperson Leslie Unger assured fans that the papers were a hoax, adding: "The Academy's president is not advised of the winners in advance."

She added that Pricewaterhouse Coopers was "still counting the ballots" and that a master list of winners was never compiled.

"There are only two people there who will know the complete list of winners in advance of the envelopes being opened during the ceremony," she explained.

Last month, bosses at the Golden Globes Awards were forced to deny claims that Anne Hathaway had been prematurely declared a winner because of an error on their website.

The 81st annual Academy Awards will be broadcast live on ABC on Sunday night.