Fraud Alert

Chinese Letter Scam

Officers from Operation Sterling have been made aware of attempts to defraud members of the public after they have received unsolicited letters from individuals based in China.

The letters are always sent from an individual claiming for example, to be a private investment manager or a business relationship manager. The manager makes further claims, stating to have managed funds of either a relative or of someone who has a similar name to the letter recipient usually dated back to the 1990’s.

In addition, the individual has been involved in an accident and has died intestate. The sums of money mentioned in the letter, is usually in millions of US Dollars. The letter’s recipient is asked for complete discretion and the manager will make them the beneficiary of the funds mentioned.

The only details on the letter of the sender are an email address and a telephone and fax number. No postal address is mentioned.

It you receive such a letter, do not respond to it and destroy it by using a shredder.

For further advice on this scam visit our advice page