A WARNING has been issued about an internet diet pill scam, following a spate of complaints.

Vale of Glamorgan Trading Standards Officers are warning people to be wary of companies offering a "free trial" of diet pills via a internet pop-up in return for payment of delivery costs by credit or debit card.

Some time later the consumer will notice several debits of around £70 from their card despite repeated references on the website to a "risk free trial" of the product.

Trading standards explained that when accepting the terms and conditions, the consumer is unlikely to have noticed that the trial must be cancelled within two weeks or it will turn into a monthly subscription for the full price of the product. Such terms and conditions are hidden within pages of other information and not immediately obvious.

Very often these companies are based overseas and any UK office is only likely to be a mail address. Consequently, the consumer is extremely unlikely to receive a refund once payments have been taken.

A Trading Standards spokesman said: "We would always advise consumers to read the terms and conditions of any contract carefully.

"Never do business without first fully researching the company you are dealing with."

Anyone who have lost money should contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 08454 040506.