A RUNCORN pensioner received a letter from from The People's Postcode Lottery telling him he had won £825,000.

The 72-year-old man immediately suspected something was wrong when he was asked to send a ‘processing fee’ and his bank details to claim his winnings.

He alerted Halton’s Trading Standards who are warning residents to be on their guard about the scam.

The victim, who does not wish to be named, said: “The letter looked very authentic. It had a London address and said I had been picked out of three million people.

“Someone else might be jumping for joy if they are taken in by this big scam.

“I don’t do the lottery so I knew it was not genuine.”

He has reported the scam to Cheshire Police.

Halton Clr Dave Cargill, board member for Trading Standards, said: "The People’s Postcode Lottery does exist but they will email winners of less than £1000 and phone winners of higher amounts. They do not send letters.

“The postcodes of all of their winners are given on their website postcodelottery.co.uk. "