VULNERABLE and needy people could be at risk from a scam that offers to send a cheque for £1,100 but asks for £15 up front.

The con trick has been known for many years but came to light again this week after a Pewsey woman received a letter purporting to be from the Registry of Awards.

The letter told the recipient she had an open and unpaid cash value award in her name to the value of £1,100 from a prize draw sweepstake, and all she has to do is to send a cheque for £15 to cover the required premium acquisition fee made payable to the Registry of Awards, and send it to a post office box in Street, Somerset.

WPC Nikki Burt at Pewsey police station said that anyone ill-advised enough to send a cheque would never see their money again, let alone the promised £1,100.

She said: "We have brought this to the notice of Wiltshire Trading Standards and they say they are aware of the scam.

"They are strongly advising anyone receiving such an offer to read the small print and steer well clear of it.

"I think the best place for letters like this is in the bin.

"The trouble is that vulnerable people, and those in financial straits, might be tempted to take up the offer.

"We can only advise their friends and relatives to make sure they have not received any letters like this."