ICO fines sole trader for allegedly sending 1M spam texts

ICO fines sole trader for allegedly sending 1M spam texts

Britain’s data watchdog has fined Bharat Singh Chand £200,000 for sending nearly a million spam texts related to debt and energy savings without consent. This case highlights the risks of unregulated marketing and targeted scams, especially toward vulnerable populations. #ICOFines #SpamTexts #DebtScams

Keypoints

  • Bharat Singh Chand sent 966,449 spam texts about debt and energy grants without valid consent.
  • The ICO fined Chand £200,000 for deliberate violation of direct marketing rules.
  • Messages were sent from 383 mobile numbers and lacked sender identification or website info.
  • Over 19,000 complaints were filed against the spam texts via the 7726 spam reporting service.
  • Chand appealed the decision, and the 20% discount on the fine was not applied.

Read More: https://www.theregister.com/2025/10/29/ico_spam_text_fine/