ICO Information Commissioner's Office SCAM?

catalpa

I received the same letter from the ICO last week looking for £40. However, when you read the instructions, you have to fill out an application form first to pay them. When you do this, you are entering a contract and will have to pay them so effectively you are volunteering to pay them the £40 quid. Their terminology e.g.' "if you don't pay when you SHOULD, you COULD be fined up to £4000" is all idle threats. I am in the process of writing to the ICO to ask them to send me an invoice if I owe them £40 and I will be happy to pay anything lawfully owed. I bet you they won't send me an Invoice and I won't hear from them again. Like all government claims it is indeed a scam. I am searching to find the address to write to but I am struggling to find it. I wonder why?

martindow

catalpa said:

I received the same letter from the ICO last week looking for £40. However, when you read the instructions, you have to fill out an application form first to pay them. When you do this, you are entering a contract and will have to pay them so effectively you are volunteering to pay them the £40 quid. Their terminology e.g.' "if you don't pay when you SHOULD, you COULD be fined up to £4000" is all idle threats. I am in the process of writing to the ICO to ask them to send me an invoice if I owe them £40 and I will be happy to pay anything lawfully owed. I bet you they won't send me an Invoice and I won't hear from them again. Like all government claims it is indeed a scam. I am searching to find the address to write to but I am struggling to find it. I wonder why?

Here you are - phone and postal addresses are here

https://ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/who-we-are/directions-head-office/

If your business should be registered, it should be and you'll need to pay.  Have you checked the criteria to see whether you need to?  You're on their radar now, so it may be wise to do so.

Dalby84UK

Biggest money spinner ever, want £40 just for you to confirm you are not going to be stupid with peoples information, and they dont check anything just want payment and ask you to click a few boxes, even a nigerian scammer can click a few boxes and make the payment 

DullGreyGuy

Dalby84UK said:

Biggest money spinner ever, want £40 just for you to confirm you are not going to be stupid with peoples information, and they dont check anything just want payment and ask you to click a few boxes, even a nigerian scammer can click a few boxes and make the payment 

A half decent one ticks the boxes that say the dont need to pay