Scammers up on UK law?

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Not quite a Newb Joined: 04 Jun 2008 Posts: 73

Had a request come through to my organisation from a "Fr4nk Sm1th", via a well-known (to me!) website specialising in sending out Freedom of Information requests to UK Public bodies.

The text of his request read, "Who do I talk to about comm3rc1alisation opportunities? Dear Sir or Madam, Can I please have a list of the different representatives for the different c0unc1ls around the country, in your 4ssoci4tion I would have to contact to inquire about a mutually beneficial business opportunity and their direct contact details? Yours faithfully, Frank Smith" (l33ted in case the website do me!)

I can refuse this request easily (Data Protection law overrides FOI for a lot of personal data), but has anyone else had a clued up lad trying to get new contact details in such an innovative way?

By using the aforementioned website, I dont get to see his email address, hence I cant track where he is Mad

Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 4:44 pm

Ask a Moderator Always the right solution when game meets RL Wink

Can you sent attachments ? http://forum.419eater.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=154299&highlight=

Can you force them to contact you on your own email? Long list of names, existing huge db file, be more specific, can sort to order anything to get to their addy?

Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 9:50 pm

Is the request from a UK IP address? I can't see any reason for a non-UK person to need this information legitimately (and frankly you're probably well to just tell him to do one anyway, whoever he is)

Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 10:09 pm

Quote:

........website specialising in sending out Freedom of Information requests to UK Public bodies

Then what are they doing sending a message stating

Quote:

"Who do I talk to about comm3rc1alisation opportunities? Dear Sir or Madam, Can I please have a list of the different representatives for the different c0unc1ls around the country, in your 4ssoci4tion I would have to contact to inquire about a mutually beneficial business opportunity and their direct contact details? Yours faithfully, Frank Smith" (l33ted in case the website do me!)

I would have considered that an improper request and nothing to do with FoI, and maybe they should scrutinise what they're passing on if they don't wish to damage their credibility.

Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 1:13 pm

@GP: ^^^
You mustn't be thinking straight, this is a body of UK public servants after all, what makes you think they have any credibility to damage? Confused

Not quite a Newb Joined: 04 Jun 2008 Posts: 73

@MBL - The website he has made the request through sends the email to us - I would need the original email he sent to the website to get his IP

@GP - I've no problem in refusing his request on a number of FOI exemptions. However, I will wait until the 20th working day after his request (as within the realms of the FOI legislation), just in case he is on tenterhooks waiting to receive all this information!!

@TT - How very dare you sir! I take that as an affront to the public sector Laughing

Actually we're very good to release information to FOI requests!

Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 2:21 am

If the site is by the guys who started out with faxyourMP all those years ago, I doubt you'll get the originating IP address - best just sit on it and reject it I guess Sad

Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 8:53 am

seminal wrote:

@TT - How very dare you sir! I take that as an affront to the public sector Laughing

Actually we're very good to release information to FOI requests!

and so do I.