A scam letter promising a share of $10.5 million dollars has been highlighted by police.

A police spokesman said the letter — received by several households and claiming to be from a South African lawyer — was a fraud and should be ignored.

The spokesman added: “Members of the public are advised to be extremely cautious when considering whether or not to send funds to persons who have contacted them unexpectedly, especially persons whose identity cannot be properly established.”

And he said: “Such requests via unsolicited ‘official looking’ correspondence should be ignored.”

The letters are signed John Pedro, who claims to be a lawyer based in Johannesburg, offering to split the estate of a deceased client.