Letters claiming households have won a share of £425,000 are fake and aimed at gaining money from the unsuspecting residents

Scots are being advised to be on the lookout for a fake postcode lottery scam.

Letters have been sent out to households across Scotland claiming they have won a share of £425,000.

The letter claims to be from the People’s Postcode Lottery, which raises millions of pounds for charities every year. However, the letter advises recipients that a processing fee is required to release the winnings - which legitimate lotteries would never do.

The letter has a head office address in London in its heading, and is signed by 'Susan Blair', who is listed as the lottery's president. The postcode lottery is actually headquartered in Edinburgh and the name is a fake.

Highland communities are thought to be amongst those who have been targeted.

Trading standards manager of Highland Council, David MacKenzie, said: “Scam mail can take the form of fake lotteries or imitate genuine lotteries.

"Scam mail is sent with the sole intention of obtaining money through deception and/or fraud.

"It is a common theme among lottery scams to ask for an upfront fee to release winnings.

"We want to know about potentially fraudulent mail so that we can investigate illegal business activity and support those affected, particularly the more vulnerable members in our community.”

If you are unsure about any postcode lottery correspondence you receive, contact People’s Postcode Lottery on 0808 109 8765 or email info@postcodelottery.co.uk.