Brake warns constituents of local scam

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 7th Apr 2004

Tom Brake MP for Carshalton and Wallington is warning his constituents not to be duped into falling for a new money transfer scam that is solicited via letter. At least two constituents have received this letter and it is likely that many more have recently been sent out to local residents.

The elaborate letter scam, headed 'strictly confidential and urgent,' asks recipients to become involved in a secret international business endeavour that involves transferring $28.5m into a foreign bank account. The offer appears tempting for recipients of the letter as they are told they will receive 25% of this specified sum.

Mr. Brake said,

"This is a well organized and believable scam and I am alerting all of my constituents not to contact or give money to the devious person behind this. The letter is completely false and I hope that no one falls victim to this ill intentioned ploy to steal money from unsuspecting people.''