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Nurseries warned over cash scam

Bogus agencies are increasingly targeting nurseries and playgroups, using threatening language to trick them into handing over up to 135 to register under the Data Protection Act. Efforts to extort money from childcare organisations have so alarmed the Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas, that he has warned them not to part with any money and to check whether they need to register. A spokeswoman for the commissioner's office said it had received more than 100 calls from nurseries and playgroups over four days last week.

Efforts to extort money from childcare organisations have so alarmed the Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas, that he has warned them not to part with any money and to check whether they need to register. A spokeswoman for the commissioner's office said it had received more than 100 calls from nurseries and playgroups over four days last week.

Mr Thomas said, 'The golden rule is that if you receive a letter out of the blue demanding more than 35 to register under the Data Protection Act, this will be a scam. Our simple message to businesses is to throw the letter in the bin and not to pay the fee demanded.

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