FINES FROM ICO ABOUT SPAM TEXT MESSAGES DURING THE PANDEMIC

08.03.2021

The Information Commissioner’s Office (“ICO”) announced on 05.03.2021 that the fines totaling £330,000 have been imposed on two separate companies for sending nuisance text messages during the Covid-19 pandemic.  

The first one of the companies is the West-Sussex-based company Leads Works Ltd. The company has sentenced to a £250,000 fine for sending more than 2.6 million nuisance text messages without the customers’ valid consent. The company also aimed to benefit from the lockdown by sending messages like “In lockdown and want to earn extra cash?”

The second company who fined by ICO is Valva Vehicle Ltd. The company, which specializes in financial products, has sentenced to an £80,000 fine for sending more than 95,000 text messages without consent. The text messages are also designed to appeal to people who have financial difficulties due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The ICO stated that this would be an attempt to capitalize and profit from a health crisis, and the ICO will continue to fine and take the necessary actions on the businesses who think they can exploit the pandemic.

You can find the text of the announcement here.

Should you have any queries and/or remarks, please do not hesitate to contact us. 

 

Kind regards,

Zumbul Attorneys-at-Law

info@zumbul.av.tr