WOMEN should avoid a pyramid investment scheme which has been launched in Droitwich Spa, a town mum has warned.

Annette Gwinn, of Victoria Avenue, was angered when she received a flyer saying the Women Empowering Women scheme had hit the Spa.

Organisers were advertising their meeting, which was held on Monday August 6.

The project involves women handing over a gift of £3,000, often within a circle of friends.

As more investments are made, people move up the pyramid and if they reach the end of the chain, they could receive up to £24,000.

However, if new people are not recruited investors lose their cash.

Mum-of-one Annette said: "This scheme does not empower women, it rips them off.

"I believe a similar project saw economic downfall in Albania several years ago because eventually people stop investing and people left in the chain lose their cash."

A Droitwich mum-of-three is running the Spa venture and attracted eight people to her meeting.

The woman, who refused to be named, has successfully invested money into the scheme.

She told the Advertiser: "There has been bad publicity about this but I've benefited from the pyramid.

"It's a gamble and I would never encourage anyone to get a loan from the bank or use money they cannot afford to gamble.

"People must work hard at recruiting new investors to ensure a profit."

A Worcestershire Trading Standards spokesman said: "These types of ventures are tempting and appear 'too good to be true'".

"This is usually the case."