Bogus lottery sweeps town

A number of Rochdale residents have received letters telling them that they have won a significant amount of money.

The letters ask for personal details including banks details, telephone details and other information.

Rochdale MP Paul Rowen and former MP Cyril Smith have both received letters themselves and a warning residents not to fall for the scam.

Paul Rowen MP said: “In times of recession people have got to be alert to this type of despicable scam. This one is particularly cruel, as it doesn’t ask for cash up front. Filling in your personal details on this form or calling the number listed will lead to one thing – you will be conned. I am asking people who receive this bogus letter to be aware and simply bin it! This letter is unsophisticated, unprofessional and its rightful place is with the trash!

“I have done some research into the matter and it appears that this organisation has popped up all over the country. Don't be fooled by this spam mail about winning many hundreds of thousands and giving away your true identity and bank details. It's a pity that the elderly are the main targets for these kinds of spam mail. I have forwarded this letter to the police for investigation.”

Sir Cyril Smith said: “This letter is obviously a con and I hope that no one falls for it. Nobody gets free money and these cons are a disgrace. I am pleading with people not to have their heads turned by this. The letter I received told me that I had won 915,510 Euros. This is despite the fact that I have never heard of or entered such a thing. This is the work of con merchants and even tries to fool us by featuring a picture of a ‘previous winner’. Avoid this like the plague.”