Anyone with the surname Turner has been warned not to fall for a scam that looks too good to be true.

Residents with the surname in south London have been targeted by a letter claiming they are the beneficiary of an unclaimed $16.4million investment from a dead man's estate.

The letter, written by a man who claims to be a family man and a banker with Hong Kong's Nanyang Commercial Bank, says the investment was made with Nanyang in 2000 before being transferred to the Dah Sing Bank in China.

It says the investor died in an accident in China and the banks are searching for the beneficiaries of the estate, a search that has lead the banks to the letter's recipient.

Police Constable Duncan Harris, from the Metropolitan Police, said: "I am concerned that many people of the same surname may get this letter or they may get similar letters using a different surname.

"I am also concerned that these letters may target elderly and vulnerable people.

"Such letters should be treated as scam mail and I advise residents not to respond - and certainly not provide any personal bank account or PIN details.

"My advice is that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."

Anyone who receives one of these letters is advised to contact Action Fraud by visiting by calling 0300 123 2040.