SAFER Swansea partners are warning city residents not to fall victim to a potential scam letter that has swooped on the city.

The message comes after a member of the public alerted police that he had received a letter from a Spanish lottery.

It urged him to part with bank details and cash to collect his winnings, despite never entering a Spanish lottery.

The Post Office has confirmed that at least 50 of these letters have been sent to residents in Swansea.

Police and trading standards officers are urging people to be extra cautious if they receive such a letter and to report it to the police and the Office of Fair Trading.

Crime Reduction Officer PC Darryll Howells said: "The Safer Swansea Partnership strongly believes this to be a scam and we urge people not to fall victim to it.

"People should be very cautious about parting with bank details in this way as it could potentially lead to monetary theft and identity theft."

Swansea Council's Trading Standards Divisional Officer Dave Picken said: "People need to be extremely aware of lottery scams, or operations purporting to be a legitimate lottery. There have been cases where people have been conned into parting with their hard-earned cash and never see a penny back in return.

"The basic statement to remember in these situations is that if something appears to be too good to be true, it generally is."

How to spot a scam

• They will ask for bank details or other personal information
• You will be caught unawares by the so-called company contacting you without you asking them to – by phone, email post or sometimes in person.
• They will sound pleasant, well spoken and kind and have slick, professional leaflets and letters
• They will be persistent, persuasive and rush you into making a decision
• They will ask you to send money before you receive their tempting offer or win
• They offer you something for nothing – such as winning a lottery that you haven't even entered, an exclusive entry to a scheme that promises to make you money and so on

What to do

• Tell your friends and family
• If you or anyone you know has been a victim of a scam report it to Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 or police on 01792 456999

For more information on scams that have hit the UK visit:

 The Office of Fair Trading's website at www.oft.org.uk