The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) has searched two more properties in the North West of England as part of an ongoing investigation into nuisance calls linked to stolen bodyshop repair data.The latest search warrants were executed at a location in Gatley, Greater Manchester and Wilmslow, Cheshire where investigators seized computers and phones that are now subject to forensic examination.
“This illegal trade has multiple negative effects both on the car repair businesses targeted for their customer data and the subsequent nuisance calls made to customers. These can be extremely unsettling and distressing,” said, Mike Shaw, Enforcement Group Manager at the ICO. “These people won’t get away with it – any person or business involved in the theft and illegal trade of personal data may find themselves subject to ICO action.”
Since the investigation launched last year, ICO investigators have fined a Hampshire-based firm £270,000 after carrying out 22 million nuisance calls and imposed Keurboom Communications Ltd with a £400,000 penalty for the same offence. Two more properties were recently raided in Macclesfield and Droylsden but no sanctions have been confirmed.
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