RESIDENTS in Hartlepool are being warned to watch out for a string of suspicious letters circulating the area.

Trading standards officers have been made aware of three overseas offers being sent to people and businesses in the town.

In the first case, a Hartlepool firm received a reminder from a Barcelona company about an entry in a European city guide.

The reminder was the first the business had heard of the guide, and the invoice received for entry in the book was for £448.

Trading standards officers believe the people behind the fraud hope companies will not question the invoice until it has been paid.

In the second example, someone in the Philippines is sending out letters claiming people have won $12,000, and all they have to do to claim the money is send either £7.99 or £9.99 to New York.

The third case is a letter from Vienna telling people they have scooped one of four prizes: a car, a kitchen, a trip to Paris or a television.

Trading standards officials believe those people who claim their prizes will be offered the Paris trip only, and this involves the winner paying for extras such as overpriced meals.

Michael Welsh, Hartlepool Borough Council's trading standards manager, said: "These may all initially look like attractive deals and they invariably come in the form of official-looking documents.

"However, the bottom line is that they are all scams of one or other description, bringing misery to the unwary.

"We would urge everyone, whether in business or an ordinary member of the public, not to let their guard drop against these or similar scams."

Anyone who receives suspicious mail should call trading standards on (01429) 523362