YORK trading standards officers are being inundated with complaints from consumers who have received "mail shots" from abroad promising large sums of money - and asking for their bank account details.

Elizabeth Levett, the City of York Council's trading standards manager, warned local people about tempting promises of cash from abroad and prize draws.

She said: "We are very concerned at the number of lotteries, prize draw schemes and lately, requests for consumers' bank account details.

"Such correspondence is originating from many different countries and York residents are being targeted."

Some of the latest letters have come from as far away as Nigeria or South Africa. These documents tell of large sums of money in the foreign country and state that due to current political situations a UK bank account is needed for the person to be able to dispose of their cash.

Recipients of the letter are asked to give details of their bank account or open another account and forward the details to the sender so that they can supposedly deposit a large sum into the UK account.

The sender offers big rewards

- sometimes up to £1 million - for anyone willing to help.

Others have received letters congratulating the recipient on being a guaranteed cash winner.

Unfortunately, this is extremely unlikely, as the small print invariably identifies terms and conditions which make it clear that the headline cash prize will not in all probability be awarded to the addressee. Other schemes encourage consumers to send money to be entered into a lottery

and charge registration of processing fees of about £10 to £20.

However, with most schemes the only cash prize guaranteed is about £1 and with some, nothing.

York's trading standards officers ensure that details of potential scams are forwarded to the International Liaison Division of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Ms Levett said: "We urge consumers to read the small print carefully and consider what likelihood they have of getting their money back from individuals or firms based abroad.

"The majority of the correspondence is not covered by British law and, in most cases, it is almost impossible to get any money returned. In particular we would never advise anyone to give people access to their bank account."

Updated: 11:44 Monday, September 17, 2001