SMALL businesses and people across Teesside could be the target of an international scam, according to fraud squad officers from Cleveland Police.

Officers are warning people to be on their guard after a spate of letter posted from West Africa, which purport to be from government departments in Nigeria.

They offer the chance of a 25 to 30 per cent share in a multi-million pound fortune simply by providing bank details.

Detective Inspector Bill Matthews, head of Cleveland Police's fraud investigation team, said the letter writers claim they need access to foreign bank accounts to transfer money into. In return for that, people will receive the promised percentage.

"In reality, the money does not exist. The fraudsters use the information to commit all sorts of frauds - obtaining loans, applying for credit cards and setting up false bank accounts," he said.

He said that people who take the bait receive requests for "contributions" to help in the operation to get the money out of the country,

He said: "The victims keep sending money hoping they will eventually get their hands on the millions, but of course they never do."

Det Insp Matthews said anyone receiving such a letter should send it to the fraud investigation team at police headquarters.

"There is absolutely no prospect of any money being made," he said.