Elderly people are being warned to watch out for a hoax letter telling them they have inherited cash.
The letter, which is always addressed to the householder by surname, goes on to ask them to send their bank details to an address in China.
Hillingdon CID’s Detective Constable Andy Miles, who is investigating the origin of the letters, said anyone who receives one should report it to the police.
Mr Miles said: “The letters are being addressed to people always giving the first name of ‘William’, and the surname of the recipient, to suggest a relative has died.
“It seems to be particularly targeted at old people – I have not heard of anyone young who has received one.
“I suspect the sender obtained details of the recipient from the electoral roll.
“He may have picked those areas because of the number of elderly and wealthy people who live there. The potential for a crime to occur is readily clear.”
He added: “We don’t know of anyone who has fallen for this, but the intention of the author, I am sure, is to defraud people.
“We want to warn residents, especially the elderly, not to be fooled.
Roger Waxwell, an 82-year-old police volunteer from Ruislip, was a recipient.
The letter told him a William Waxwell had died and there were thousands of pounds to be claimed in an inheritance.
“I immediately realised what it was when I saw it,” said Mr Waxwell.
“It is obviously a scam but I think some people might fall for it.”
His advice is being reinforced by safer neighbourhood teams which are delivering leaflets to residential areas offering advice.
The Gazette reported the scam last month, but since then the number of letters has increased and been sent to the elderly in Ruislip, Eastcote, Northwood and Ickenham.
