BUSINESSES are being warned about a chain letter scam that is currently circulating.

According to police, many companies in the Maidstone area have received a letter from someone claiming to be making contact on behalf of a terminally-ill seven-year-old boy.

The letter claims the boy, who allegedly suffers from cancer, is making a world record attempt by collecting compliment slips and requests the recipient send a compliment slip and forward details of 10 further contacts.

These details are then used falsely and any email addresses given are used to spread a computer virus.

John Grant, crime reduction officer for Mid Kent Police, said: "This hoax chain letter seems to be circulating in the Maidstone area at the moment and to urge people not to reply to it.

"It seems genuine as it is based on a real case, which happened a number of years ago, involving a little boy with cancer collecting compliment slips for a world record. Fortunately, he recovered and is now in his 20s."