People in Sittingbourne are being warned not to respond to a scam letter telling them they have won large sums of money.

A number of residents have reportedly been targeted in the con, with two pensioners coming forward to say they were almost taken in by it.

The letter, which is purportedly supported by FIFA and Euromillions, tells recipients they have won £700,000 in a “postcode lottery” and warns them not to tell anyone about their claim to guard against “fraudulent acts from criminal minded and unauthorized [sic] persons.”

Jill Pittman, of Bassett Road, who received the letter on November 18, has warned other homeowners to be alert.

The 71-year-old said: “My son called the number and when he started asking questions they hung up.

“He asked them why they wanted to speak to me and they weren’t prepared to explain.

“Obviously they were looking for someone a bit doddery and not someone young!”

Kent County Council’s Trading Standards office confirmed it had received calls from people who have been targeted.

A spokesman said: “The number of calls we receive is not great, usually just one or two in each town, but the scam is widespread and we want to warn the Kent public about it.

“It may seem obvious, but you cannot win a lottery that you haven’t entered.

“Genuine lottery companies will pay the money to the confirmed winners without asking for anything in return.

“With this particular scam, the operators ask for a processing fee and for the winners’ bank details so they can allegedly send the payment.”