City of York Council's trading standards officers are warning residents to look out for the latest mailshot circulating in York.

The letter, a type of chain letter, promises £40,000 for an outlay of only £87. Residents are being told that all they have to do is send a £10 gift in cash to a nominated individual and then send 200 letters out which contain their own and five other people's details.

Trading standards manager Elizabeth Levett said, "These 'get-rich-quick' schemes, which ask people to send money to other people on a list then add their own name and send out more copies of the letter, are probably illegal under the Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976. However, only a court can say authoritatively whether a particular scheme is unlawful.

"Our message is that people should beware of 'opportunities' where the rewards are dependent on recruiting others to join a scheme. Such schemes have caused heartache for people in the past.

"Potential speculators should ask themselves: 'Does the initial outlay really sound commensurate with the promised gain?' and we would urge people not to send money they can't afford to lose ".

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