Data Protection Act Scam - beware

[JohnL]

I've recently set up a small business (hence protracted absence from PH!).

This morning I received a letter from a company called Data Collection Services, demanding £95 to register under the data protection act under threat of criminal prosecution. I'd got as far as writing out the cheque when I began to smell a rat. I phoned the Information Commissioner.

This is a scam, don't do it! If a company has to register at all - and not all do - then it'll cost £35 a year. Data Collection Services are "under investigation", and their form/letter should be binned.

Thinking about it, I also got a letter from some internet business directory, asking me to contact them so they could make sure they had my details right. I did so, all sounded OK until they asked for £59 ... which I told them (politely - to start with!) to poke where - etc. Bet that was another scam, now that I think about it.

More to this running a business stuff than meets the eye! I'm going to have to grow a bit more skeptical, I think.

[maddaudi]

We have had similar claims as well, all bogus.

You can check out the following sites if you think you have been targetted by similar scams

www.stopecg.org/dataprotection.htm
www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk/eventual.aspx?id=3677

[mutt k]

All you need is the rating cowboys to be in touch and then you have got the full set! Oh, no, I forgot the charity diaries and wallcharts. Now you have got the full set!

[simpo two]

And the American salesmen calling from Geneva trying to get you to invest £10K!

>> Edited by simpo two on Friday 5th November 11:41

[Marki]

simpo two said:

And the American salesmen calling from Geneva trying to get you to invest £10K! >> Edited by simpo two on Friday 5th November 11:41

ohh yes , i have had this 2 times in the last 6 months , first from Hong Kong , then this week from Romania !