MP Warns of Nasty Spanish Scam

11.56.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 29th Sep 2008

Local residents are being subject to what Vincent Cable MP calls a "particularly clever and insidious new scam".

Residents are sent an apparently personal letter from Spain saying that they share the same name as a wealthy business mogul who was wiped out with his family in a car accident. They - the recipients of the letter - are told that they may be the heir to a fortune and should, therefore, appoint a designated lawyer in Spain who will, of course, charge fees for his work in establishing the validity of the claim. Those who reply will be asked for bank details and their accounts will be raided.

Vincent Cable said that he had "been alerted to the scam by a resident in Whitton whose 91 year old mother had received the letter and had taken it very seriously (but fortunately hadn't parted with any money). The elderly mother has already been a victim of two sets of bogus builders in six months who have robbed her. It is difficult to find words of contempt sufficient to condemn the evil crooks who prey on elderly and vulnerable people in this way. I have asked the Office of Fair Trading to investigate and track down the perpetrators."