WAR has been declared on bogus homeworking schemes which promise generous financial rewards, but are nothing more than cash-spinning scams from unscrupulous organisers.

Warwickshire Trading Standards officers swarmed into Stratford on Monday to make the area a zero tolerance zone on the schemes despite disappointment caused when the Government decided not to push through a law offering more protection.

They decided to launch their own offensive to stop more people being hoodwinked by adverts promising rich rewards by tearing down the posters and telling the companies involved that their presence is not welcome in Stratford.

Some of the bogus offers discovered by Trading Standards have included schemes where people are asked to make up packs of safety pins or stencils or stuff and address envelopes.

On every occasion, those interested are asked to send money up-front of up to £35 to pay for materials or a registration fee.

However, payment is never received because work is rejected or the company "disappears" and never gets in touch again.

Sometimes, the adverts appear with premium-rate telephone numbers, which workers call for more details and some unscrupulous firms pocket the money from the calls and there is no offer of work at the end.

Noel Hunter, director of Warwickshire Trading Standards, said he had been hoping for new legal powers to crack-down on the schemes, but the Government had opted not to introduce a bill for the moment - although a Private Members Bill to ban them has been proposed.

"In the meantime we hope that our campaign will start the process of making Stratford and South Warwickshire a homeworking scam free zone," he said.

Warwickshire County Councillor John Haynes echoed Mr Hunter's concerns, adding: "Bogus homeworking schemes are a serious problem and unfortunately it is often those who can least afford to, the elderly and the unemployed, who lose out the most."

Anyone experiencing problems with homeworking should contact the Warwickshire Trading Standards Adviceline on 01926 414000.