BUSINESSES are being warned not to get caught in a new web of deceit that could cost them up to £270.

Lancashire County Council Trading Standards Service has become aware of invoices being sent to businesses requesting money to renew their internet domain name.

The bill is headed 'Domain Expiration Notice' and is sent out by a company using both a London and a Cambridge address.

It states that the recipient's internet domain name is due to expire and requests a renewal fee of £60 for two years, £140 for five years, or £270 for 10 years, even though Nominet UK (the .uk internet registry) only allows domain names to be renewed for two years at a time.

The invoice tells the recipient that if the fee is not paid, then they may lose their domain name.

Lancashire County Council's chief trading standards officer, Jim Potts, said: "Businesses should not pay money over to this trader as there is no guarantee that the domain name will be renewed. Businesses should check all invoices carefully.

"If your domain name is due for renewal, you should contact your existing registration agent for further advice."