CON artists are preying on large numbers of Dorset residents, hoping to fleece them of their money by promising a prize or cash windfall.

The extent of the problem - with between 30 and 50 people a month complaining to Dorset County Council trading standards about scams - was revealed at a police-run conference.

And Canadian detective Barry Elliot, who spoke to local organisations at the conference to warn of the increasing threat from Canadian-based fraudsters, said the number of victims who report cons can be as little as 10 per cent of those actually deceived because others are too embarrassed to report it.

DS Elliot said the con artists have expanded their market from Canada to America, and are now targeting 145 different countries all over the world, mainly aiming the scams at the elderly.

"We know the Britain is the next major target - in fact, you're being targeted right now," he said.

"The biggest victim in the UK lost £300,000. People need to recognise the importance of reporting this, not only for their own well being, but also because it's important to stop others becoming victims."

Dorset County Council's divisional trading standards manager, Ivan Hancock, told the conference the council received just under 400 scam prize complaints last year.

The scams have included telling people they have won a prize but need to send a fee to collect it or to call a high-tariff phone line to claim.

Other people, such as unemployed Laticia Brook, 49, from Winton, have sent off their savings after being told they have won the lottery in a foreign country and need to pay tax on it.

Mr Hancock advised the public to be suspicious if:

l the letter of call comes from outside the UK

l there is a fee to collect the prize

l there is lots of elaborate small print

l the calls are premium rate

l you've won a competition, but you don't remember entering it in the first place.

Superintendent Colin Searle, of Dorset Police, said: "The message is very simple - if something seems to be too good to be true, then it probably is."

A telephone and online service, Consumer Direct, is available to consumers for advice and information, on 0845 040506, or www.consumerdirect.gov.uk.