MOBILE phone users are being told to beware unsolicited text messages.

The warning comes from trading standards staff, who were contacted by a parent whose son received a £200-plus bill after replying to a reverse billed premium rate text message.

Officers say people should take care when receiving the following:

090 numbers where you receive a promotional text message inviting you to call a premium rate service, often used for competitions.

pay to send where users are invited to send a message at premium rate, often used for opinion polls or vote lines. Officers advise people not to text a reply without checking the cost.

reverse billed premium rate service. A a text invites you to respond by text, which triggers a premium rate service where the user will be sent further texts, which you will be billed for. These usually contain a four or five digit short code number to reply to. At £1.50 each, the bill can soon mount up.

Councillor Pam Walker, public protection spokesman, said: "Our advice is simple. Offers that seem too good to be true usually are. Mobile phone users should be wary of any innocent fun texts, for they may end up costing them dear."

Mobile users can remove their details from calling lists by contacting the Telephone Preference Service on 0845 0700707. Many service providers can install call-barring arrangements for premium rate services. Any premium rate service which does not list its charges should be reported to the telephone watchdog ICSTIS on 0800 500212.

Coun Walker added: "To obtain a fact sheet from our consumer advice team, call 253 5566. It won't cost you much, but could save you a lot."