BUSINESSES in the North-East are being warned to be on their guard against approaches from companies purporting to be from the Data Protection Agency.

Victims are asked to send a cheque for £135 to an address in Rochdale, along with details of their company, in order to register with the Data Protection Registrar.

The letter warns that failure to comply with the instructions constitutes a criminal offence.

A number of business, including The Northern Echo's offices in Darlington and Barnard Castle, have been targeted, but trading standards officials have told people to ignore the letters.

Craig Hudson, divisional manager for the Trading Standards Service, said: "It should only cost £35 to register and some companies can be exempt.

"If anyone is unsure, they should check with the Office of the Information Commissioner.

"This is a long-running thing and we have been working hand-in-hand with the Information Commissioner. A lot of these companies have jumped on the bandwagon and many of them are based in the North-West. I think the Information Commissioner is taking action against 30 to 50 of these companies."

The letter The Northern Echo received was from a company calling itself the Data Protection Agency, based at Sparth House, 49 Heath Street, Rochdale.

Only the Office of the Information Commissioner can ask for registration fees and legitimate correspondence will always carry the address Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire.