Deception on the Line: ICO Fines Alarm Company £100,000 for 260,000 Illegal Calls

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TMAC Ltd, a Birmingham-based pendant alarm company, was fined £100,000 for making over 260,000 unsolicited marketing calls to TPS-registered numbers. Between February and September 2024, employees used false identities claiming to represent crime prevention initiatives to target vulnerable individuals, including the elderly. The investigation revealed the company used unlawfully obtained second-hand data.

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Facts

• PECR Breach: Violation of Regulations 21 and 24 (Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations). Marketing calls cannot be made to TPS-registered numbers without explicit consent.

• Transparency: Callers must identify themselves and provide contact details; impersonating local initiatives constitutes deception.

• Data Acquisition: Using second-hand data without lawful basis or consent is prohibited.

• Enforcement: The ICO issued the fine under the Data Protection Act 1998, emphasising that public reporting is vital for enforcement.

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Read more - ico.org

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