Stephen Metcalfe, local MP
for South Basildon and East Thurrock, is warning constituents of a new scam
potentially dropping through letterboxes throughout the county.
Mr Metcalfe has himself
received one of the letters which claims to be from a Chinese investment
banker. The recipient is offered the chance to share in the unclaimed fortune
of a deceased person who goes by the same surname.
The local MP is concerned
that scams such as this, which are usually found online and in emails, are now
making their way into people’s homes.
He commented: “I wanted to
make my constituents aware of this new scam which uses personal information to
prey on vulnerable people. Receiving this in the post is a lot more intrusive
than the hundreds of email scams in circulation but it doesn’t make it more
viable. I would advice my constituents to bin any such mail immediately and to
ensure that they do not make contact with these predatory criminals.”
He added: “Remember the old adage - If it seems too good
to be true, it is too good to be true!”
Mr Metcalfe has informed
the Post Office of the letters and they are now doing all they can to trace the
perpetrators.
