Wristbands are the new must-have fashion item, but counterfeit versions are flooding the market. IAN CHEVEAU looks at how a charity campaign is being exploited by fraudsters who take advantage of big-hearted Cheshire folk.

The Charity Commission has issued a stark warning to the people of Cheshire to be on the lookout for conmen cashing in on the wristband craze as tricksters continue to flog fake charity wristbands online and on the streets of the county.

Wristbands which show support for causes such as anti-bullying, anti-racism and the recently launched Make Poverty History campaign have become much sought-after - so much so that unscrupulous profit-makers are now jumping on the bandwagon and developing their own lookalike products.

Schools have seen a big increase in pupils wearing charity wristbands. Some have even expressed concern about how to deal with what seems to be this season's must-have accessory in the playground, and some teachers claim the true meaning behind the wristbands is buried in the new fashion phenomenon.

It is believed that hundreds of schoolchildren the county have turned to websites with their cash to be a part of the wristband culture. Now the Charity Commission is concerned that money could be going straight into the pockets of crooks who advertise the products as genuine.

Antony Robbins, head of communications at the Charity Commission, said: 'We must remember that these wristbands represent important issues.

'It is great that they are becoming so popular, but if they solely become fashion items there is a risk that the causes being promoted could lose credibility.

'Essentially they are about raising awareness - not lining people's pockets. We would advise anyone wanting to buy a wristband to make sure they are giving their money to a genuine charity.'

Already, in Glasgow, thousands of wristbands have been recalled from shops after an investigation deemed them to be copies of the Live Strong cancer bracelet.

Charities selling the bands for £1 make anything between 40p and 85p for every one they sell, while internet sellers have been charging prices more than 13 times the face value as a result of the huge demand.

The genuine Live Strong yellow wristbands, endorsed by cyclist Lance Armstrong who battled his way back from testicular cancer to win the Tour de France, have now sold more than 40 million bands through the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

However, the new fashion accessory is simply not for children as scores of adults across the borough have decided to don their yellow bands after a loved one has died of cancer.

Other charities and organisations have decided to follow Lance Armstrong's idea.

Breast Cancer Care is the latest charity to catch on and it has launched its own fuchsia pink bangle, while anti-bullying and anti-poverty bracelets and anti-racism bangles are now must-have fashion statements.

Big names have already been spotted wearing the global symbol for the campaign, a simple white band.

Jamelia, Fran Healey of Travis, Busted, the Sugarbabes, Graham Norton and Stephen Fry, alongside U2's Bono, actress Scarlett Johansson, super-model Claudia Schiffer and Archbishop Desmond Tutu are among those who have signed up to the Make Poverty History campaign, which already has the support of organisations that represent millions of people in Britain.

However, according to Lindsay Boswell, chief executive of the Institute of Fundraising, she wants to make sure that band-wearers, who want to wear the same fashion as their idols and peers, are ploughing their money into the right causes and not opportunists who seek to earn a quick return by selling fake goods.

She said: 'It is despicable to see that criminals are, yet again, targeting money intended for good causes. Wristbands sold independently of the charity are less likely to be reputable and we would encourage anyone wanting to buy one to contact the charity directly or to visit their website.'

The Charity Commission advises anyone wanting to buy a wristband to avoid paying for them via auction sites and other non-charitable web pages, as they fear that money is ending up in the wrong hands.