The firms contact businesses threatening legal consequences and fines if the companies do not comply with health and safety law.

They claim that a new register became law on 1 May and that all businesses should apply for registration, for a fee of �129.25.

Oxford City Council says companies should ignore any such requests.

"These companies are asking for significant sums of money, claiming they will send out information, much of which Oxford City Council and the Health and Safety Executive provide free of charge," said a spokeswoman.

A similar scam was operating in Berkshire in which companies were asked to send a cheque of �249 to obtain a health and safety information pack.