GARDAI have this week issued a warning about postal and internet hoaxers operating in the county seeking to obtain personal bank account details.

A Garda spokesman urged people to treat any such requests with extreme caution.

"These requests manifest themselves in two ways. It may be through the postal service whereby a letter is received in the post informing the individual they are or have been the winner of a lottery most probably in Spain," the spokesman said.

"It can also operate through the internet whereby an e-mail is received most likely enquiring about the purchase of a service. This e-mail will be followed by a cheque, bank draft or money order in the post for a sum of money in excess of the amount required or agreed. A further e-mail will instruct the receiver to retain the amount agreed and return the remainder via a cheque or draft. This is where the fraud takes place," the spokesman added.

The Garda spokesman called on people not to disclose any personal details or banks account details as the cheques/drafts were not genuine and individuals had been caught already in Donegal.

"It is particularly important that holiday home service providers exercise extreme caution when taking bookings for accommodation. Any requests to return any amount of money or to disclose personal or bank account details should be treated carefully and with suspicion," he concluded.