Trading Standards at Northumberland County Council has issued a county-wide alert after reports of a fraudulent letter claiming recipients had won a large international lottery linked to the Football World Cup. The correspondence, seen locally, falsely states the recipient is due to receive in excess of £800,000 but instructs the person to pay a charge before any funds can be released.
How the scam works
The fake letter uses counterfeit FIFA logos and mimics the layout of legitimate lottery correspondence to exploit public excitement around major sporting events. The package prompts the recipient to pay an administrative, tax or insurance fee within a seven-day deadline. Trading Standards warns this is part of a well-established approach used to extract money or sensitive information from people who did not enter any lottery.
- Claimed prize: over £800,000
- Demand: payment of fees or provision of bank/account details
- Deadline stated: 7 days for payment
Local reaction and advice
Northumberland County Councillor Gordon Stewart, Cabinet Member for Public Safety, emphasised that large sporting events often present opportunities for criminals to target residents. He urged vigilance, particularly for older people and those who may be more vulnerable to scams.
“Major sporting events often give criminals an opportunity to take advantage of public excitement and trick people into handing over money or personal information.”
Trading Standards advises anyone who receives such a letter not to reply, call any numbers printed on the correspondence, or share bank details or identity documents. Residents are encouraged to discuss the warning with family, friends and neighbours to reduce the risk of someone being caught out.
Reporting and next steps
Anyone who believes they have been targeted or has lost money should report the incident. The guidance is to contact Report Fraud online or by telephone on 0300 123 2040. The council's communication stresses that legitimate lotteries do not request upfront payments to release prizes.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Claimed prize | Over £800,000 |
| Requested action by victim | Pay administrative/tax/insurance fee within 7 days |
| Advice | Do not reply or call numbers; do not share bank details or ID |
| Report to | Report Fraud online or 0300 123 2040 |
This alert follows a report from a local household and is consistent with similar scams seen elsewhere. The council's message is straightforward: treat unexpected prize notifications with scepticism, especially when a payment is demanded in advance.
