Local businesses are being warned to be alert after one company boss received what looked like a genuine invoice for £370.

Chris Gibson, managing director of motor dealers Burgess Ford, was not taken in by the bill he received from United Media for an entry in an international telex and telefax directory, but fears others who are less vigilant might be.

"I shredded it immediately so that it didn't get paid, but I could imagine it getting through the system without being noticed at some bigger companies," he says.

"At first glance it looks like a proper invoice, but when you read it closely it says your company details will be entered in the international directory if you pay the fee.

There is even a three per cent discount for prompt payment. It is quite a good scam, and someone must be making a good living out of it," he says.

Mr Gibson, who has received similar 'invoices' before, has passed details on to Keighley Business Forum so that member companies can be warned.

The bill seeks payment to United Media s.r.o. at a bank account with Ceska sporitelna a.s., okresni pobocka, Most, in the Czech Republic, but gives no telephone number where the company can be contacted.

Trading Standards officer Graham Hebblethwaite says: "This sort of operation has been going on for at least 20 years, but it is always very difficult to trace them back to the originator. One or two have been exposed in the past, and there could be an offence under the unsolicited goods and services act if they originated in this country.

"If there is no intent to ever publish a directory it would be obtaining money by deception. But it is very difficult to enforce the act, especially if like this case the bill comes from a foreign country.

"All we can do really is warn people to be very careful and not just pay up," he says.

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