Fraudsters are trying to target businesses in South Lakeland by posing as an anti-money laundering group.

Letters are sent demanding £75 per employee to conform with the Money Laundering Regulation 2003', police have warned.

Cumbria Police said businesses have received letters from a fictitious organisation calling itself The Anti-Money Laundering Support Team National Training Scheme'. The letters are addressed from Lymm House, Plane Tree Drive, Crewe, Cheshire.

Cumbria Police spokesman Greg Stephenson said the letters were all well presented and contained a self addressed envelope with the demand for cash. He said anyone who received a letter from the address in Crewe should not respond or send any payments. He said Cheshire police were investigating the scam. Anyone who had already sent a payment should contact Crewe CID on 01270-500222.