GLOUCESTERSHIRE trading standards service is calling on county businesses to 'spread the word' to help stamp out a persistent scam.

The con involves businesses receiving official looking letters demanding payment for registration under the Data Protection Act.

The rip-off was first exposed by trading standards officers more than a year ago but Cotswold businesses are still being targeted with demands for £95 plus VAT.

Head of Gloucestershire trading standards Roger Marles said: "While the Data Protection Act requires most businesses processing personal data to notify the Information Commissioner they can do so directly and the fee is only £35, on which no VAT is payable."

He added that over the past year his officers had received more than 200 complaints from local companies.

"The letters appear to contravene the Control of Misleading Advertisement Regulations.

"These regulations give the Office of Fair Trading the power to stop advertisements by means of a court injunction if they receive complaints that people have been misled and if such action is considered to be in the public interest.

"Our best weapon against this scam is publicity and I would urge businesses to spread the word to ensure that nobody in Gloucestershire is taken in by it."

For more information about the scam and how to avoid it log on the trading standards website at www.tradingstandards.gov.uk.