HOUSEHOLDERS have been warned to beware scam letters promising them millions of dollars.

The warning was sounded by Bob Mortimer, of Netherton, who received a letter in his capacity of county president of the Royal British Legion.

The letter purports to come from a Chinese bank employee offering to share millions of dollars with the recipient.

The letter claims to be from Eddie Li Kong, a banker with the Shenzhen Development Bank in China, who has decided to get in touch with Mr Mortimer regarding the estate of a deceased client who shares his surname. It says he has been traced because a man called Albert Mortimer had died intestate and that in the absence of a will, the banker could arrange for the dead man’s assets of more than $15m to be made over to Mr Mortimer.

It offers Mr Mortimer half of the sum if he is willing to co-operate and keep quiet.

The letter ends by urging Mr Mortimer to “act swiftly” and call back immediately via a telephone number..