A scam falsely claiming to promote the Olympics and football World Cup has prompted a warning from Bracknell Forest Council’s trading standards team.

The scam sees the potential victim receives a letter which suggests they have won a lump sum in a lottery to promote the 2016 Olympics and 2018 FIFA World Cup.

To claim their prize, the winner is asked to ‘begin your claims’ by contacting a Mr Andrew Horns of a company called Times Financial Corporation on what appears to be a London-based landline and a UK mobile.

Both FIFA and the International Olympic Committee have confirmed the letters are fraudulent and have nothing to do with the 2018 FIFA World Cup or the 2016 Olympics.

John Nash, Bracknell Forest Council’s trading standards team manager, said: "This is a scam which has been doing the rounds nationally for the past couple of years and has now been recorded in Bracknell Forest.

"The scammers usually ask their potential victims to make an upfront payment to secure the money which should always be a request to set alarm bells ringing.

"We would also advise residents that no official lotteries would contact people to tell them they have won a prize. Treat any letter telling you otherwise with extreme suspicion."

Bracknell Forest Council’s trading standards team has issued the warning after being sent a copy of a scam letter which was received by a resident this week.

In this letter, the recipient was told they had won £725,000 from the 'lottery'.

Cllr Iain McCracken, executive member for culture, public protection and corporate services, said: "Scammers will use any means necessary to try to con people out of money and tagging on to hugely popular, global events such as the Olympics or World Cup in a bid to be seen as authentic is one such technique.

"But by raising awareness of such scams and with residents’ help to spread the word, we can stop the scammers in their tracks.

"Our message to residents is please dont be fooled; if you haven’t entered a lottery, there is simply no chance you could have won it."