BURY Police are warning residents about a possible identity theft scam.

In a warning posted on Twitter, police said they had received reports of a Chinese national offering money from the inheritance of someone with a similar surname to theirs.

The resident is asked to keep the letter confidential and asked to write back, but police warn this could lead to demands for money or, at worst, identity theft.

Police urged anyone affected to call trading standards on 0161 2535050.