Spammers sent 17,000 texts to cash in on virus
ADGEL played upon people’s concerns at a time of great public uncertainty, acting with a blatant disregard for the law, and all in order to feather its own pockets. Andy Curry of the ICO
FIRM that sent 17,000 nuisance text messages about hand gel to profit from the coronavirus pandemic has been fined £60,000 by a watchdog.
The texts, sent to the phones of people who had not consented to receive them, claimed the hand sanitising product was “effective against coronavirus”.
They were sent between February 29 and April 30, during the height of the outbreak.
The firm responsible, Digital Growth Experts Ltd, was fined by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) which upholds information rights in the public interest.
Andy Curry, head of investigations at the ICO, said: “DGEL played upon people’s concerns at a time of great public uncertainty, acting with a blatant disregard for the law, and all in order to feather its own pockets.
“We will prioritise action on organisations carrying out similar activity.
“Direct marketing laws are clear and it is the responsibility of businesses to ensure they comply.
“Ignorance of it or attempting to rely on vague and misleading evidence in support of a marketing campaign simply does not wash.
“The sending of nuisance marketing texts are a significant concern to the public, and the ICO will continue to take action where our advice is not followed and where we find serious, systemic or negligent behaviour that puts people’s information rights at risk.”
DGEL has a registered office in central London and a correspondence address for the director of the firm, Andrew Hughes, in Westburyon-Trym, Bristol, according to information held by Companies House.
The ICO said the firm failed to provide sufficient evidence that it had the consent from phone owners it is required to have under the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (PECR), which govern marketing calls, texts and emails.
DGEL came to authorities’ attention after people forwarded the texts to 7726, the spam reporting service.
Members of the public can report nuisance texts, calls or emails, to the ICO, on 0303 123 1113.