HOUSEHOLDERS are being warned about fraudsters trying to obtain personal bank account details.

North Yorkshire police issued the warning after several incidents of people receiving letters purporting to be from someone in China.

The letter apparently reveals that the recipient has the same name as someone else who has recently died, leaving the sum of $70m HK in a bank account.

It tells the recipient to pass on personal information to access the money.

A spokesman for the North Yorkshire force said yesterday: "The first rule is that if it seems to good to be true that is because it is. We recommend people who have received such letters check extremely carefully before following up any remarkable offers that come their way."