EAST Lancashire residents are being urged to take care not to fall victim of competition frauds.

A spokesman for Action Fraud said a lottery scam was circulating, with criminals pretending that victims have won a prize.

He said Over-60s were most likely to fall victim: The spokesman said: “Criminals will normally get in touch by letter or email and will try to engage you into dialogue with them. Once they have convinced you that they are genuine, they will ask for a fee to be paid to release your winnings.

“This fee could be to pay taxes or duty, or for a solicitor, banker or judge to authorise the transaction. No genuine lottery will ever ask for any sort of fee to be paid.

“Often this first fee will be small, but once they know you are willing to pay it they will ask for more and more money, with ever-changing excuses as to why they need it. Victims can end up losing tens of thousands of pounds over the course of months or even years.”

To Report a fraud at , visit www.actionfraud.police.uk