They said mail urging people to release personal details, such as bank account numbers, should sound an alarm bell.

The warning comes after The Royal Gazette received a letter, purportedly from an oil corporation in Lagos, Nigeria.

The letter-writer said he wanted to transfer US$25 million.

"...I would appreciate to use your Bank Account Number as an Offshore Account to siphon the said sum of money overseas. You to act as the Beneficiary to the fund.'' The letter promised the recipient 30 percent of the money after the transfer.

It also asked for certain details, including an account number, banker's name, address, telex, fax and telephone numbers, and a company letter head.

Yesterday The Royal Gazette sent the Police a copy of the letter.

Police spokesman P.c. Gary Venning said the letter followed a format similar to ones urging people to get involved in scams.

And it was not unusual to receive them from Nigeria.

"The important thing is for the public, particularly businesses, to beware of them, and not to divulge important information such as bank account numbers.'' P.c. Venning urged people who received such mail to send them to the Police.

It was normal for the mail to be handed to the Fraud Squad and then passed on to Interpol.

P.c. Venning did not believe sending such letters was "criminally wrong''.

But it could lead to an offence, he added.