CHRISTINE Reid replied to a small ad for a money-making scheme - but soon suspected she'd be out of pocket.

And trading standards officers are warning people to stay away from the work-from-home scheme operating in East Lancashire.

A company using the name DC Publications claim people can earn up to £150 by addressing envelopes.

Christine, 48, of Waverley Road, Blackburn, sent off for details after seeing an advert in a newsagent's window.

She paid a £10 registration fee but was shocked when she got a letter back explaining that the job involves her placing similar adverts in shop windows using her address and forwarding stamped addressed envelopes to D C Publications. She said: "I just wanted to make a bit of extra money from home but this involves going out and putting up notices in shop windows.

"You have to pay to display the ads, pay to get to the shops, pay to return the replies to this firm.

"It means you end up out of pocket."

The company says it pays 30p for every SAE their "workers" send on.

The envelopes are then sent back to the people with details of self-help and health books the firm sells.

Julian Edwards, senior Lancashire trading standards officer, said: "Any scheme where you have to pay to get work should be avoided at all costs.

"It's an insidious way of praying on people who can least afford to hand over money."

The firm, in Wembley, could not be reached for comment as they have no telephone listed.

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