Britain’s data watchdog has fined a sole trader £200,000 for nearly a million spam texts targeting people in debt – almost 20 pence per message.

Bharat Singh Chand sent 966,449 messages about debt solutions and energy saving grants from 383 mobile numbers between December 3, 2023, and July 3, 2024, according to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). This resulted in the fine confirmed today.

The activities of the Carmarthenshire sole trader, who has appealed against the decision, came to the attention of the regulator during a separate investigation into someone suspected of sending texts on behalf of Chand and giving advice about a SIM farm.

The messages, the ICO claims, didn’t include a website address or any identifying information about the sender, simply inviting the recipient to reply “YES” to find out more about debt services. Those that replied in the affirmative received a phone call from a company calling themselves “The Debt Relief Team.”

When officials from the ICO visited Chand’s home with a search warrant on June 11 last year, he denied involvement in the scheme “despite a call script being on open display,” the watchdog said.

Other “evidence” included WhatsApp messages between Chand and a third party that involved “discussing excuses to provide to another related ICO investigation” in which he appeared to encourage another person to “lie” in response to a letter sent by the Commissioner.

A whopping 19,138 complaints were received about the spam texts via the 7726 spam reporting service. The ICO penalized Chand, saying he “knowingly and deliberately transmitted or instigated the transmission of 966,449 text messages without valid consent, breaking direct marketing rules.”

Chand has been a registered director of seven companies: Compensation Claims Direct, Consumer Claims Ltd, Consumer Marketing Solutions Limited, Platinum Home Designs Ltd, Databook Ltd, Bombay Bites Takeaway Ltd, and Blue Box Pictures Ltd.

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Andy Curry, ICO head of investigations, said in a statement: “These text messages not only caused a nuisance to many thousands of recipients, but were clearly targeted at people who are at greater risk of harm; such as those facing financial hardship.

“Chand showed blatant disregard of the law and attempted to mislead the ICO during our investigation. We’ve taken action to protect the public from the stress and misery these messages can cause.”

Because Chand appealed, the 20 percent discount on the £200,000 fine – which would have applied if it had been paid by October 16 – is not available, the ICO said. ®