THOUSANDS of T-Mobile customers’ personal details have been stolen and sold on to rival firms.
A spokesman for the company confirmed it alerted the data protection watchdog after it discovered contract information was being passed on “without our knowledge”.
The Information Commissioner, Christopher Graham, said the company contacted his office to warn him about the leak.
It is claimed thousands of records were sold so rivals could contact owners before their contracts expired to offer them a new deal.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has investigated and found the information was passed to several “brokers” for “substantial amounts of money”. It is now preparing to prosecute those allegedly responsible.
Christopher Graham said: “Many people will have wondered why and how they are being contacted by someone they do not know just before their existing phone contract is about to expire.
“We are considering the evidence with a view to prosecuting those responsible, and I am keen to go much further and close down the entire unlawful industry in personal data.”
Mr Graham revealed details of the allegations as he backed Government proposals for people who steal and sell on personal data to be given prison sentences. At the moment, the maximum punishment is a fine.
A spokesman for the company said the situation was “deeply regrettable” and suggested it was an industry-wide problem.
The company had been asked to keep the problem a secret to avoid prejudicing a criminal prosecution.
He said: “T-Mobile takes the protection of customer information seriously.
“When it became apparent that contract renewal information was being passed on without our knowledge, we alerted the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
“Working together, we identified the source of the breach, which led to the ICO conducting an extensive investigation which we believe we will lead to a prosecution.
“While it is deeply regrettable that customer information has been misappropriated in this way, we have proactively supported the ICO to help stamp out what is a problem for the whole industry.
“We had been asked to keep all information on this case strictly confidential so as to avoid prejudice to the investigation and prosecution.”
