Four Bermudians have become victims of fraud scams losing tens of thousands of dollars after believing they were winners of lotteries or investing in fake internet companies.

Now the Financial Crime Unit has issued a warning to the public about the advanced fee fraud, which affects several people a month on the Island.

A statement said: "The Bermuda Police Service Financial Crime Unit continues to advise members of the public not to respond to unsolicited correspondence via e-mail, fax, letter or telephone call which claims to offer an amazing prize or cash reward only if the lucky winner is willing to send an amount of money first to secure the winnings or other promising opportunity."

Detective Sergeant David Geraghty, of the Financial Crime Unit, said: "We get people on a regular basis. It seems to be middle aged people. They're not elderly. Usually you find that the youngsters are too smart and realise they are being scammed."

In the complaints last week, one woman sent $17,000 to Nigeria after being told she had been awarded a random prize by the Microsoft Corporation.

Another woman lost $10,000 having been informed that she had won the Euro Lottery, while another woman lost $6,000 in a scam after meeting a potential partner on a dating website.

And a man also invested a sum of money with an online investment firm which turned out to be bogus.

Det. Sgt. Geraghty said the scammers frequently use Western Union, a money transferring facility, because it is highly unlikely that they will be traced.

"Usually what they do is use the Western Union facility because Western Union allows somebody in any part of the world to walk in, deposit cash and using a code word, anybody can withdraw that money with little or no chance of tracing the person.

"That's why these scammers avoid the banking system. Three [of last week's scams] were Western Union."

He said in the e-mails, the scammers will write "congrats, you've won the prize but you need the government transfer tax". And they will also ask for an FBI consultation fee and that is when victims start sending money.

Det. Sgt. Geraghty also warned the public not to use internet cafes for personal banking as there is often no way of tracing the scammer who hacked into an account.

Asked how many have lost money due to scams, the detective said: "We get a couple a month. Sometimes it's a few more, sometimes it's four or five a month. We get a regular basis of people being scammed."

Police also issued a warning, saying: "Once again, members of the public are advised to be extremely cautious when sending funds to persons who have contacted them unexpectedly, especially via the internet or to persons whose identity cannot be properly established. If you have not entered an overseas lottery, the chances of you having won that lottery are extremely remote.

"Also, it is unlikely that a recognised establishment will avoid conducting financial transactions using the banking system. If a person or entity insists that funds are transferred by any other means, additional scrutiny of the transaction is advisable."

Anyone with questions should contact the Financial Crime Unit on 295-0011.