A lottery scam operating is in the county.

Hertfordshire County Council's Trading Standards team is currently receiving reports of letters arriving out of the blue telling people they have won £725,000 in the ‘EuroMillions FIFA World Cup Super Lottery'.

These letters, apparently sent from 39 St James Street London and from an address in Zurich, Switzerland, go on to say that in order to claim the cash prize the recipient must telephone the number on the letter.

On doing so they are told that they must first pay a 1 per cent processing fee and provide their bank details.

More than £40,000 has been lost by people in the county as a result of paying yet more and more fees on top of the original processing fees they were asked to make.

Roy Wilsher, director of community protection at the county council, said: "These letters are a scam. You cannot win a prize in a lottery that you have not entered and genuine lottery operators will not ask you to send them money before releasing winnings.

"I would urge anyone receiving one of these letters to simply bin it."

If you have responded to this scam or if scam mail is causing you or someone you know distress, report it to Hertfordshire County Council’s Trading Standards team via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506.