FRESH warnings were issued today after a bogus letter was sent to a York business urging it to fork out nearly four times the going rate for data protection registration.

Philip Thake, managing partner at HPH Chartered Accountants, York, said one of his clients was surprised when a "final demand" dropped through the letterbox.

The four-page leaflet, from a company calling itself Data Protection Enforcement Agency, based in Blackpool, was demanding £135 to register.

The fee should be £35 per year, the Information Commissioner said today.

The official-looking letter also said failure to register was a criminal offence and warned of a fine of up to £5,000.

But Mr Thake said his client did not even have a database of information.

He said: "The information looks quite official and I can just imagine some small business seeing this, being frightened and just paying the cheque."

Information Commissioner Richard Thomas said the fee for notification was £35 and businesses that needed to do so should contact his office.

He said more than 200 businesses a month fell foul of bogus registration agencies, which often used threatening language and headed newspaper.

"The golden rule is that if you receive a letter out of the blue demanding more than £35 to register, this will be a scam.

"Our simple message is throw the letter in the bin and not to pay the fee demanded."

The Office of Fair Trading is investigating complaints against the Blackpool-based organisation targeting York.

Trading standards chiefs in the city called for caution over the data protection scam, highlighted last year amid a flurry of similar scams.

Matt Boxall, principal trading standards officer, City of York Council, said his department received several inquiries from businesses last year reporting they had received an "official looking" document telling them to register under the Data Protection Act.

He said: "This sounds like an extension on that theme, with this being the final reminder.

"Our advice is that businesses can seek advice from the Office of the

Information Commissioner on whether they are required to register with them under the Act."

The Office Of The Information Commissioner can be conatcted on 01625 545700. Its website is www.dpr.gov.uk

Updated: 10:45 Wednesday, February 23, 2005