TWO residential care homes in the North-East have raised concerns over a national scam that is trying to rip off businesses.

In the latest incidents, the homes received letters from the bogus Health and Safety Registration Enforcement Division, with a Rochdale postmark, claiming it was an official enforcement body.

It asked for payments of up to £249 for compliance accreditation with health and safety laws.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's trading standards and health and safety teams are backing a nationwide warning to beware of three firms, operating from addresses in Liverpool, Manchester and Rochdale.

It has also reminded trading standards of a similar scam around data protection in which a company, also using a Rochdale address, wanted firms to send £100. Their activities are being investigated by the Office of Fair Trading.

The council's food safety and health and safety manager, Paul Stenson, said: "Health and safety law is enforced by local authorities and the Health and Safety Executive, not private companies.

"There is no legal requirement for anyone to buy literature or services from these companies - our advice is to bin the mailshot."

The council's principal trading standards officer, Howard Turton, said: "These people use official-sounding titles to try and convince companies they need to comply. It's a very similar scenario to a scam earlier this year around data protection."