EMAILS aiming to con locals out of cash are landing in mailboxes across South Lakeland - including the leader of South Lakeland District Council.

A scam letter which looks officially sent from the HM Revenues and Customs Child Tax Credits from the headquarters in Preston is being circulated in the area to dupe people into handing over their bank details.

And council leader Brendan Jameson, who received one of the scam emails at the weekend, is concerned that the scam - which is very authentic - could easily con locals into giving out their personal details and give the conmen access to their cash.

He received the letter at the weekend, which includes the HMRC logo and names and telephone numbers of officers at the Preston office.

Cllr Jameson said: “When I got the letter I looked at it several times and thought it was informing me that I was due a rebate on my income tax of £284.23.

"It is a realistic amount but then I realised it was for tax credits which I do not get.”

“It is a very sophisticated scam and I can see that people would be esily taken in by it, which is very concering.”

A spokesman for HM Revenues and Customs, said: “The letter looks authentic but it is not.

"We would never inform anyone by email and always by letter.

"If anyone gets informed they are due a tax refund by email then it is not from us.”

She said the HMRC were currently aware of a number of similar scams operating in Britain and urged people never to disclose personal information such as PIN, passwords, or bank details and said anyone unsure about letters or emails they have recieved should call HM Revenues and Customs.

Anyone who believes they have received a fraudulant email should forward it to HMRC at phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk.

For more information visit the website below.