Following an initial warning last summer, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has issued another caution to childcare settings not to be taken in by fake data protection agencies posing as Government bodies.
The bogus agencies send letters, often using threatening language, on official-looking headed notepaper requesting sums of up to 135.
A spokeswoman from the ICO said they had received more than 100 calls from nurseries and playgroups about these fake letters over the past few weeks.
She said the childcare sector was 'particularly vulnerable'.
Assistant information commissioner Phil Jones said, 'The golden rule is that if a business receives a letter out of the blue demanding more than 35 to register under the DPA, this will be a scam. Our simple message is to throw the letter in the bin and not to pay the fee.
'It is a real concern that many organisations are still falling for this scam. If businesses are in any doubt about a letter they receive, they can contact the ICO directly to establish if they are required to notify.'
The ICO does not have the power to take legal action against bogus companies but is working with the Office of Fair Trading and the police to investigate the problem.
Nurseries and playgroups can contact the ICO notification line on 01625 545 740. The statutory fee for registration under the DPA is 35 a year.
For more information see www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk.
