A PENSIONER believes conmen operating from Holland have tried to trick her into sending them money through the post by offering her huge cash prizes in return.

Sheila Naisbitt, who lives in Lambeth Close, received an official-looking letter through the mail earlier this week.

The letter was written in official language and addressed to her with the heading "payment validation."

An envelope with a PO box address in the Netherlands was included and the senders asked for a £16 registration fee in return for a £200 cash prize. Further down the letter the £200 prize was altered to £200,000.

The 67-year-old retired nurse said: "I am sure if I have got a letter like this there must be other people out there getting them as well.

"There is no way I am going to send this money off, it is obviously a con but it is terrible to think they are preying on pensioners. I am going to throw this letter in the bin and would advise other people to do the same thing as well."

Detective Inspector Tony Harling said: "This is not something I have come across before but if someone is asking for payment for a service and then not providing it then that is fraud.

"I would advise anyone who receives a letter like this to treat it with caution and not to send of any money."