Another Prosecution. Another Derisory Fine

This article was originally published in Bristows' monthly IT e-newsletter 'The Cookie Jar'.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) had reason to celebrate earlier this month. A married couple were successfully prosecuted for illegally obtaining and selling personal information contrary to s.55 Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA). The couple, reportedly making £140,000 a year from the crime, were fined a mere £7500 plus costs of £3694. The case provides another insight into the growing undercover market in confidential personal information and supports the call for tougher sentencing.

The facts of the case revolve around Mr and Mrs Anderson of St Ives, Cambridge. In a story reminiscent of the film Shooting Fish, the couple adopted a variety of guises to deceive call centre staff at high profile organisations, persuading them into disclosing the target individual’s personal financial data.