TRADING standards bosses are warning people across East Lancashire to steer clear of homeworking and "get rich quick" schemes being promoted by sharks on the internet.

The net has provided a new outlet for these schemes, which have traditionally been advertised in small ads, shop windows or posted on lamp posts.

Last year trading standards officers checked 64 offers for homeworking which promised well-paid work for mailing circulars or assembling craft goods. All 64 offers checked were found to be bogus.

The schemes required people to pay up to £200 but provided no income or wage. Many also tried to use consumers to sign up more victims into the scheme.

The Office of Fair Trading recently revealed more than 100 misleading websites offering "get rich quick" opportunities to UK web surfers. A spokesman for the OFT said: "People should be very wary of claims that large amounts of money can be earned for little effort. If something sounds too good to be true then it probably is."

County Councillor Chris Cheetham, chairman of Lancashire County Council's finance and general purposes sub-committee, said: "Lancashire Trading Standards have been very concerned about bogus homeworking and get rich quick offers for many years and I know that our local newspapers will not handle the adverts. The net is opening other opportunities for tricksters from all over the world.

"The Government is considering ways of safeguarding internet consumers, but the international nature of the net makes effective control difficult to implement."

The council is urging anyone considering joining these schemes to contact the trading standards department on 0845 600 1352 before paying any money.