Residents are being asked to be on the alert for letters arriving in the post offering to predict their future for a fee.

Consumer advice officers at East Riding council’s trading standards service have received complaints about the same letters.

They say letters from so-called psychics or clairvoyants are one of the most common direct mail scams and typically they focus on issues such as health and money worries.

Sometimes the tone of the letters can be aggressive and there may be a suggestion that something bad will happen if the recipient does not request a prediction and send the fee.

Alternatively, the scam may encourage people to pay for a prediction on the grounds that it will chance their life forever.

Unfortunately, if residents send money, they are likely to be sent more scam letters as their name will be added to a ‘sucker’ list.

For more information on scams, contact Consumer Direct on 08454 040506 or visit the website www.consumerdirect.gov.uk.