ICO Press release of Jan 29th, 2007 reads ...
"Liverpool Crown Court sentenced four men to prison today for their involvement in fake data protection agencies. Francis Boyd pleaded guilty to dishonestly obtaining £401,545 from businesses demanding a payment to register under the Data Protection Act between 1 December 2002 and 2 April 2004. Between 1 March 2004 and 17 March 2005 Michael Boyd, Paul Barton and Mark Deary worked together obtaining £206,596 in a similar fashion."
Francis Boyd was sentenced to two and half years in prison, Michael Boyd was sentenced to 8 months, Paul Barton 12 months and Mark Deary 18 months.
Passing sentence, the judge said this was ‘a well planned and sophisticated enterprise.’ It was a ‘scam cloaked with the appearance of officialdom’
I have to say that this was a good idea done badly. They could probably have made a very profitable AND legal business out of this by outsourcing all the perceived pain that goes with data protection compliance and notification. You don't have to deceive someone for them to see a good outsourcing opportunity. They may have attracted fewer customers initially (the lack of a fear factor being the primary reason), but there are many opportunities to help businesses manage compliance.
Too greedy, and too few morals I guess.
Has the wolf bared it's teeth?
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