A homeworking scam affecting "vulnerable" people such as single mothers and disabled people who work from home has been smashed by Essex trading standards officers.

They raided a private home in Brentwood with police officers, armed with a search warrant, after receiving more than 40 complaints.

It is believed the organisers netted more than £35,000 from customers who had hoped to earn a little extra cash readdressing envelopes from home.

The scheme, which was advertised using a High Street home address, asked potential workers to send a £35 deposit for a start up pack.

Steve Lynch, of Essex trading standards, said: "Consumers expected to receive a supply of leaflets and envelopes for them to stuff.

"Instead, the pack actually contained detailed instructions for them to follow for each batch to be submitted and involved them purchasing their own envelopes and stamps.

"People soon worked out it would cost more to comply with these instructions than the money they would be paid for each batch.

"Complaints to the business from consumers requesting their deposits back, because they felt the scheme was very misleading, were not responded to.''

He added: "Many wrote off the £35 as experience, because the size of the sum did not warrant the risk of suing for recovery, particularly as they only had an accommodation address available.''

Mr Lynch said that homeworking schemes cause ''hundreds'' of complaints to trading standards each year. Vulnerable people such as single mothers and the disabled, who are looking to make extra money by working from home, are often targets, he said.

"These kind of schemes are obviously tempting but what we would say is that if people are asked for money up front the alarm bells should start ringing.''

Essex trading standards plans to monitor other schemes in Essex and act if necessary. "Our enquiries into this particular matter are ongoing and we will decide whether to press charges once these are complete,'' he said.

For an advice leaflet about homeworking schemes, contact trading standards on 01245 341888

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