Warning over Olympics lottery scam

Olympic lottery scammers are impersonating the Church of England's London 2012 chief to swindle personal details out of unsuspecting victims.

In a bogus letter, emblazoned with an imitation London 2012 logo and Olympic rings, potential victims are told they have won more than £500,000.

The letter requests personal details which would likely be handed to criminal gangs abroad, Surrey trading standards said.

The letter has the false signature of the Rev Canon Duncan Green, who is the Church of England's Olympics co-ordinator and responsible for the Church's response to London 2012.

So far reports of similar phoney letters, entitled 2012 Summer Olympic Lottery, have been made in Surrey, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Merthyr Tydfil.

Consumer experts fear crooks could be targeting people throughout the UK and asked for everyone to be on their guard.

A Surrey trading standards spokeswoman said: "All manner of criminals will be looking to use the Olympics as a chance to make money through various cons and swindles.

"Impersonating the Church of England and using the Olympics to swindle people out of money is beyond contempt.

"Trust your instincts. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is."

PA