Five Companies Owe $530,000 For 'Predatory' Calls Targeting Elderly

Five companies based in the United Kingdom owe more than $530,000 after the Information Commissioner's Office found that they made "predatory" calls targeting vulnerable victims.

On Tuesday, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) took action against the companies after an investigation found that they "targeted" elderly victims, many of whom suffered from dementia or other medical illnesses that made them more "vulnerable."

In some victims' complaints, they described feeling "threatened," "coerced," and "manipulated."

The ICO announced the companies were responsible for more than 750,000 unwanted marketing calls, including to people registered with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS). The free service enables individuals to join a "do not call list" to block unsolicited marketing calls.

Companies and organizations are legally required to refrain from calling a number if it is registered with the TPS due to the Privacy and Electronic Regulations 2003 and the ICO holds the right to fine companies that break it.

The ICO enforces information rights in the public interest and is considered the UK's equivalent to the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Consumer Protection in the United States.

After receiving complaints from distressed victims, the public information watchdog launched an investigation.

ICO discovered the companies were calling individuals to sell large household appliances such as fridges, washing machines or televisions as well as insurance products.

The investigation found that the companies targeted individuals aged 60 and over by using purchased third-party data lists and targeting landline numbers. The ICO believed the companies were either using the same third-party data or were working together.

Some victims said they lost thousands of dollars for unnecessary services and insurance.

"These are unlawful predatory marketing calls that were targeted at some of the most vulnerable members of our society and driven purely by financial gain," UK Information Commissioner John Edwards said.

Edwards explained that the complaints received by the ICO were from individuals who felt "frightened and distressed" by the "aggressive tactics" of these companies. He also said that on occasion, the victims would give their financial details just to get off the phone.

"This is unacceptable and clearly exploitative," he said. "It is only right that we take tough and prompt action to punish those companies responsible using our full powers."

The five companies named in the complaint include Domestic Support Ltd, Home Sure Solutions Ltd, Seaview Brokers Ltd, UK Appliance Cover Ltd, and UK Platinum Home Care Services Ltd.

ICO recommends individuals report nuisance calls using their online reporting tool and registering their phone numbers on a do not call registry, such as TPS.

A spokesperson for TPS advised that UK-based customers who receive nuisance calls after registering their number should log the call on their website.

"It is essential to the empowerment of services like the TPS that people not only register but complain about every nuisance call and potential scam they receive," the spokesperson told Newsweek. "The more people who do, the greater number of organisations that will be held accountable to the laws in place to protect consumers."

The ICO said it is investigating several other companies after receiving similar complaints.

Update 3/17/22, 9:37 a.m.: This story was updated with comment from TPS.