PEOPLE in Evesham and Pershore have been warned about a chain email being circulated on the internet and which claims to alert them to a postal scam.

The email is being sent out referring to the Royal Mail, Trading Standards and ICSTIS (the former name of PhonePayPlus). It gives details about a telephone service, operating on 0906 6611911, that was shut down in 2005 by PhonePayPlus – the phone-paid services regulator – and is no longer running.

The county's Regulatory Services team have echoed warnings from others after receiving calls from Worcestershire residents about the issue.

Anyone that receives an email warning them about the alleged scam is being advised not to forward it to others.

Steve Jorden, head of Worcestershire Regulatory Services, said: "We have been made aware of this issue by PhonePayPlus and local residents have also been in touch. That's why were echoing the advice offered by the regulator asking people not to forward the chain emails on to others."

Residents that receive delivery cards through letterboxes that do not appear to be genuine asking to dial a premium rate number are also being urged to get in touch for further guidance.

For more information call Consumer Direct on 08454 040506.