BLACKBURN firms are being plagued by faxes advertising an array of services at premium rates.

The faxes offer people advice about a variety of subjects, such as how to scoop building societies windfalls.

The faxes, which have been circulated to companies all over Lancashire, are now being sent to firms in the Blackburn area.

Scores of local firms have received the data, from London company Second Telecom, encouraging gullible employees to ring the 0331 numbers, costing £1 a minute.

A Second Telecom spokesman said the return call costs over £6 in total. The faxes are targetting bored employees, with the hope that they will return the call as soon as possible - which could cost firms with large offices hundreds of pounds.

Blackburn Chamber of Trade president David Cottam was quick to label the faxes "a scam."

He said: "I can see a lot of our members becoming very annoyed at this.

"They would be especially angry if their staff, who they trust, started making expensive calls for things which are so obviously designed to cost companies money in expensive calls."

Second Telecom, who were responsible for faxes sent during the election asking for opinions on a referendum, were offering details of the top eight building societies most likely to convert to banks.

The spokesman added said: "We send them out to people who have faxes to see if they are interested. It is all legitimate and above board."

A spokesman for telecommunications regulator OFTEL said: "There is very little businesses can do about this except to contact the senders and ask to be taken off the list.

"If that fails, people can contact us on (0345) 145 000 to register a complaint."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.