Sussex businesses have been warned to beware of a data protection scam.

Brighton and Hove City Council said several firms had been contacted by a company calling itself Data Protection Agency Services with a request for £95 plus VAT to register under the Data Protection Act.

The company has been sending out urgent notices for payment but the council said it appeared to have nothing to do with the Information Commissioners Office, which is responsible for the Data Protection Register.

Trading standards manager John Peerless said: "The cost of joining the Data Protection Register is actually £35.

"If any businesses are in receipt of this information they should ignore it."

Friday June 13, 2003