POLICE are warning residents to be wary of scam letters asking for bank details, after the same letter has been received four times in the past month in Kingsbridge.

The letter comes from an address in Hong Kong, and is offering the recipient a share of £10.850 million dollars, as someone with the same surname has died and all you have to do to get the money is to contact them and provide your bank details.

The letter, which has many grammatical inaccuracies, starts off addressed to you, usually with your surname then a first initial, and goes on to say: 'I am Huo Hua, business relations manager for finance company in Hong Kong. I have asking a friend who come to UK to post this letter on my behalf. I am get in touch with you regard the estate of a deceased client with similar last name and an investment placed under our bank management. I would respectfully request that you keep the content of this mail confidential and respect the integrity of information you come by as result of this mail.'

It goes on to say that this client died in an accident in mainland China, and has no next of kin, so as you are a 'namesake' he is contacting you.

It continues: 'What I proposing is that since I have exclusive access to his file, you will be made the beneficiary of these funds. The Public Bank (Hong Kong) will contact you informing you that money has been will to you.'

The letter ends with 'Mr Huo Hua' asking the recipient to get back to them immediately. Police believe that they have got the addresses and details of people from an online UK phone directory.

Sgt Dave Green said: 'My advice to anyone who is receiving letters or emails of this nature is to ignore it and above all never ever give out your bank details.

'They are based overseas and have probably sent out thousands of these letters. Do not reply, do not email back or phone them, but report it to Action Fraud.'

Action Fraud is the UK's national fraud reporting centre where you should report fraud if you have been scammed or defrauded. Contact Action Fraud to report it or to receive advice, either online at http://www.actionfraud.police.uk">www.actionfraud.police.uk or call them on 0300 123 2040.