DataBreaches.Net

Menu
  • About
  • Breach Notification Laws
  • Privacy Policy
  • Transparency Report
Menu

UK: Prosecution of tracing agent for illegally obtaining personal information

Posted on June 24, 2023 by Dissent

An enforcement action and prosecution was announced by the U.K. Information Commissioner’s Office this week:

A former tracing agent pleaded guilty and was fined for illegally obtaining personal information to check if customers of a high street bank could repay their debts.

Michael Isaacs, 80, from Epsom, Surrey was the sole director of Datasearch Services Limited (DSS). DSS is a tracing agent company, previously used by the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) to locate people who owed money to RBS and to determine their assets and ability to repay the debts.

In February 2016, we received a complaint from RBS with concerns about the contents of reports it had received from DSS. After conducting a search warrant at Mr Isaacs’ home address, which was also used as his office space, we confiscated 64 trace reports.

Throughout our investigation it became clear that Mr Issacs was routinely contacting organisations such as utilities companies, local councils, and GP surgeries, while pretending to be the named person and managing to pass basic security questions. He would use voice changing software to impersonate other people and to cover his tracks.

Mr Isaacs would then record personal information such as monthly direct debits, bank account details, and outstanding mortgages to build up an in-depth profile of a person for RBS. This level of detail was wholly outside of the remit and agreement with RBS.

Of the 14 sample counts of unlawfully obtaining personal data contrary to Section 55 of the Data Protection Act, Mr Isaacs pleaded guilty to six counts on 25 February 2022.

The guilty plea met the threshold for proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA), which aims to obtain any assets that the court believes is the product or attained from the proceeds of crime.

On 15 June 2023, Mr Isaacs appeared at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court for a hearing to consider an application under POCA. The court ruled that Mr Isaacs should pay back £38,000 under a POCA confiscation order after benefiting from his criminal conduct. He was also fined £10,560 with court costs totalling £15,000.

Related posts:

  • SCOOP: Australian national known as “DR32” to stand trial in U.S. on hacking charges
Category: Business SectorCommentaries and AnalysesLegislationNon-U.S.Other

Post navigation

← Four Nigerian Nationals Extradited To The United States To Face Charges In Wire Fraud And Identity Theft Conspiracy
Former Highmark employee accused of misusing customer info to steal money from their health savings accounts →

Now more than ever

"Stand with Ukraine:" above raised hands. The illustration is in blue and yellow, the colors of Ukraine's flag.

Search

Browse by Categories

Recent Posts

  • CMS warns Medicare providers of fraud scheme
  • Ex-student charged with wave of cyber attacks on Sydney uni
  • Detaining Hackers Before the Crime? Tamil Nadu’s Supreme Court Approves Preventive Custody for Cyber Offenders
  • Potential Cyberattack Scrambles Columbia University Computer Systems
  • 222,000 customer records allegedly from Manhattan Parking Group leaked
  • Breaches have consequences (sometimes) (1)
  • Kansas City Man Pleads Guilty for Hacking a Non-Profit
  • British national “IntelBroker” charged with causing $25 million in damages; U.S. seeks his extradition from France
  • France issues press statement about arrest of ShinyHunters members
  • Patients Allege Home Delivery Pharmacy Failed to Timely Notify Them of Data Breach

No, You Can’t Buy a Post or an Interview

This site does not accept sponsored posts or link-back arrangements. Inquiries about either are ignored.

And despite what some trolls may try to claim: DataBreaches has never accepted even one dime to interview or report on anyone. Nor will DataBreaches ever pay anyone for data or to interview them.

Want to Get Our RSS Feed?

Grab it here:

https://databreaches.net/feed/

RSS Recent Posts on PogoWasRight.org

  • Justices nix Medicaid ‘right’ to choose doctor, defunding Planned Parenthood in South Carolina
  • European Commission publishes its plan to enable more effective law enforcement access to data
  • Sacred Secrets: The Biblical Case for Privacy and Data Protection
  • Microsoft’s Departing Privacy Chief Calls for Regulator Outreach
  • Nestle USA Settles Suit Over Job-Application Medical Questions
  • NY Attorney General James Affirms Hospitals Must Provide Access to Emergency Abortion Care
  • How Internet of Things devices affect your privacy – even when they’re not yours

Have a News Tip?

Email: Tips[at]DataBreaches.net

Signal: +1 516-776-7756

Contact Me

Email: info[at]databreaches.net

Mastodon: Infosec.Exchange/@PogoWasRight

Signal: +1 516-776-7756

DMCA Concern: dmca[at]databreaches.net
© 2009 – 2025 DataBreaches.net and DataBreaches LLC. All rights reserved.