BUSINESS Link Kent is warning the county’s business community about a new twist in a longstanding data protection scam.

The independent business advice organisation for Kent and Medway is highlighting the latest in a catalogue of data protection scams which has seen phoney ‘collectors’ visiting business premises to demand payment for data protection registration.

Linda Bennett, manager of the Information Services and Euro Information Centre at Business Link Kent, said: “So-called ‘collectors’ often produce official-looking identification and receipt books, but this kind of operation is totally unofficial and has no connection with the Information Commissioner’s Office, the Government agency charged with supervising data protection registration.

“Our advice to any Kent organisation approached in this way is not to part with any money and to contact the police.”

A further scam is also continuing in the county, with business organisations receiving unsolicited offers, by mail or telephone, of ‘help’ with registration from self-styled ‘registration agencies’.

Ms Bennett added: “This scam has been on-going for two years, but business people continue to be confused by the wording and tone of some of the correspondence issued, and calls made, by ‘data protection registration businesses’ charging more than £100 plus VAT for notification.

“All Kent organisations approached in this way should simply ignore any calls or correspondence. The only thing that is required of Kent businesses is that they comply with the 1998 Data Protection Act.”