Darlington Council’s Trading Standards Team has received a number of calls about a letter claiming to be from the Spanish National Lottery.
The letter claims the recipient has won a large sum of money and should contact a claim agent to arrange to get their prize transferred to their bank account.
Personal details are then requested, which could lead to the recipient becoming a victim of fraud, and no money is paid out.
Andy Scott, Darlington Council’s Cabinet Member of Health and Leisure, said: “This letter is a scam and should be ignored. People should remember that it is impossible to win a competition of lottery that they have not entered and should never give out personal details.
”Sadly it is often the most vulnerable people in society who fall for these scams and I would urge everyone to be cautious before giving out information.”