jscter started this topic @ 23:54 on 17/09/2004
All
Just to be aware the data protection scam as outlined in an article on this site is still around. I registered a business name 3 weeks ago and today I received a THREATENING letter from DATA COLLECTION SERVICES (DCS) detailing that I had to pay £95 immediately or risk a £5000 fine. They kindly enclosed an envelope !
i HOPE THE'RE READING THIS ..........
£95 raised an alarm bell as I didnt remember reading that it cost that much to registed with the official data protection agency. So I came on here and sure enough startups had an article to confirm my thoughts. WELL DONE!
I'm from Northern Ireland but in short I'd love to visit the address below in Merseyside and tell them directly what i think of them. Actions speak louder thatn words.
For anyone reading this spread the word about this scam - trading standards can't even touch these people - which is a pretty bad situation. Glad I wasn't quick to send them £95
anyway the SCAMMERS ADDRESS IS
DCS (ENFORCEMENT SECTION)
CITY BUILDINGS
21-23 OLD HALL STREET
MERSEYSIDE
L3 9BS
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">href="http://www.happydiscs.co.uk">
RE: DATA PROTECTION ACT SCAM IN CIRCULATION 17/09/2004
Ubee | 18/09/2004 01:12 AM
As we are on the topic of scams - here is a new one I heard about today...
Trading Standards would like to warn traders and businesses of a new emerging scam, which is similar in nature to the well established Data Protection Act scam
Businesses maybe receive a final notice from the Anti Money Laundering Support Team, requesting that the business certify, train and register their employees with regard to The Proceeds of Crime Act 2003 and its money laundering provisions.
The final notice refers to previous correspondence and harsh penalties for failing to comply. It then requests a fee of £75 per employee to be paid in relation to training packages.
Under new regulations there are some obligations on business to ensure that their employees are aware of money laundering regulations and training maybe appropriate in some cases.
However this notice has not been sent out by an official government agency and therefore no monies should be paid.
The Anti Money Laundering Support Team gives an address in Crewe and Trading Standards colleagues and police are investigating the matter in that region.
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Ewen Cameron
Cameron Creative
RE: RE: DATA PROTECTION ACT SCAM IN CIRCULATION 17/09/2004
James Smith | 18/09/2004 09:24 AM
I had something through i had never seen before along similar lines this week
A company through which I have no contact was "offering" to renew my co.uk domain name for £60 a year with an official looking letter
Last time I looked this cost under a fiver to do, and they aren’t even registered through this company. I guess it might catch some people out, it look like they must have trawled through the names to see when they come up for renewal.
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James Smith
Chartered Accountant
www.jamesesmith.co.uk
01235 536 773
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Your indispensable guide to Small Business Bookkeeping, Self-Assessment & VAT
RE: RE: DATA PROTECTION ACT SCAM IN CIRCULATION 17/09/2004
Ian J | 20/09/2004 02:53 PM
Misleading Data Protection mailings stopped by OFT
Sep 16 2004
The OFT has taken action to stop a Gloucestershire-based businessman sending misleading data protection mailings to businesses.
Steven Hester, from Cheltenham, was involved with two mailings, which used the names 'Data Protection Registration Agency' and 'DPR Services'. The OFT has received over 350 complaints about the mailings. Mr Hester has given written undertakings to the OFT that he will no longer issue misleading advertisements offering notification services under the Data Protection Act 1998.
The OFT considered that the mailings were misleading as they gave the impression that they were sent by an official government body and that the businesses receiving them were under an obligation to register with the sender at a cost of between 55 and 70. The mailings also failed to explain properly which persons were exempt from notification.
While most businesses processing personal data are required by law to notify the Information Commissioner, many small businesses that process personal data for limited purposes are not required to notify. Businesses can notify the Information Commissioner directly for a fee of only 35.
The OFT worked closely with Gloucestershire Trading Standards Service in stopping the mailings.
John Vickers, OFT Chairman, said:
'Any business receiving a letter demanding more than 35 to notify under the Data Protection Act should ignore it. Anyone in doubt about their obligations to notify should contact the Information Commissioner.'
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Ian
Factoring ,
Invoice Discounting ,
Trade Finance and
Asset Finance specialist broker.
Founder member of
Independent Factoring Brokers Association
RE: RE: DATA PROTECTION ACT SCAM IN CIRCULATION 17/09/2004
pugwash | 16/03/2005 09:17 AM
I received the letter this morning. It rang bells immediately because it lacks any of the usual reference numbers that I know the government like on all of their forms.
Thanks to this web site for appearing on a google search for the "BS" postcode. You've confirmed my suspicions. Is there really nothing that can be done about these people?
RE: RE: DATA PROTECTION ACT SCAM IN CIRCULATION 17/09/2004
madra | 23/03/2005 01:23 PM
yep! - same here. didnae fool me for a minute, coz i'm a cynical bugger by nature but i've given the details in this post in my blog
RE: RE: DATA PROTECTION ACT SCAM IN CIRCULATION 17/09/2004
joydivision | 23/03/2005 03:21 PM
The sad thing is I think this is almost completly legal, although I am sure there is some law about having to offer fair pricing for goods, i.e you cannot charge what you like, and £60 is very hard to justify, thats a huge markup.
However a very very large electrical retailers have been charging £14.99 for a 60p USB lead for years, in my mind that is also a scam and I don't why trading standards have not investigated.
