A call centre trader, who operated as Internet Security Direct, has been sentenced after admitting four charges under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.

Narendra Harilal Vadgama misled consumers in order to carry out unnecessary repairs on the victims’ computers.

The consumers were targeted through cold-calling or via computer pop-ups. Mr Vadgama’s employees often misled consumers by falsely stating that their computer technicians were from companies like Microsoft. They then explained that the victim’s computer had been compromised or that other problems had occurred such as routers being hacked or infected. The caller explained that urgent steps were required to prevent the victim’s computer or data from being further compromised.

The recipients of the calls were asked to buy computer services that were not required, and pay to have anti-virus software or security software installed that could actually be downloaded from Microsoft free of charge.

The court heard that vulnerable individuals were exploited and some even gave remote access to their computers after threats were made to shut computers down until payment was made. Some individuals paid as much as £499.99 to Mr Vadgama’s company for unnecessary services. Many paid multiple fees.

Mr Vadgama was sentenced to a 9 month custodial sentence that was suspended for 18 months. He was also disqualified from acting as company director for seven years and subjected to a curfew from 8pm-8am for six months.

His Honour Judge Andrew Stubbs QC said: “All those who use computers are concerned with internet safety. You saw a business opportunity….You simply didn’t care what was happening.”

The investigation was handled by the National Trading Standards eCrime Team who worked with the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, Microsoft and Leicestershire Police.

James Lowe, Regulatory and Licensing Partner at George Green commented “The Courts have little sympathy for those convicted of offences of the type committed by Mr Vadgama.  It is becoming much more common to see regulators sharing resources when conducting investigations of this type.”

If you or your business is the subject of a trading standards investigation or prosecution, you should seek legal advice from a regulatory specialist as early in the process as possible.  Contact James Lowe on 07833 240400.