ANNEX 13: LOCAL AUTHORITY USE OF COMMUNICATIONS DATA
during periods in question. Without this information, it would have been impossible to
pursue a prosecution.
Fraudulent car trader
21.
A car trader was convicted of multiple offences contrary to the Fraud Act 2006 in
relation to the sale of misdescribed and clocked cars. Vehicles were purchased at
auction with higher mileage and advertised online via AutoTrader. The trader claimed
a third party was responsible and he simply allowed the third party to use his account
at auction to obtain vehicles more easily. However, SIM cards found in possession of
the car trader were confirmed, using communications data, as being associated with
unregistered pay as you go telephone numbers used in adverts for vehicles. During
the course of the investigation, the trader sold his house and moved location; a second
set of communications data (forwarding address details from Royal Mail helped to
locate him for the purposes of arrest, entry warrants and interview. The penalty was
12 months imprisonment and a Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 confiscation order in
excess of £58,000.
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