Nuisance calls : More than 90million numbers were reportedly held by the firm – the equivalent of more than one for every person in the UK ( file image ) A company on an industrial estate is believed to make up to six million nuisance phone calls a day . The call centre used sophisticated technology to leave ‘ millions upon millions ’ of anonymous recorded messages on mobiles and landlines . More than 90million numbers were reportedly held by the firm – the equivalent of more than one for every person in the UK . The Information Commissioner ’ s Office , which carried out a raid on the company , said it appeared to have ‘ cornered ’ a sizeable proportion of the cold-call market . The small office , in Hove , East Sussex , is said to have bombarded people with offers to consolidate their debts or help them pursue a compensation claim for mis-sold payment protection insurance . The business apparently made between four and six million approaches a day – equivalent to calling every member of the population two to three times a month . The ICO launched an investigation after it received ‘ hundreds ’ of complaints about nuisance calls from multiple numbers linked to the firm . Many complaints came from vulnerable and elderly people ‘ frightened ’ by the barrage of calls . Investigators said the centre would routinely call every number in its database via an automatic computer system , and – after exhausting the list – would restart the process . The call centre , which has not been named , technically ‘ does not exist ’ in records , but is believed to be linked to an offshore firm registered in the British Virgin Islands . It is not clear how long it has been operating . The ICO said it was a complex operation on an ‘ astounding ’ scale . Anyone who expressed an interest in the service offered – by pressing the number 9 on their phone – was called back by one of 50 call centre workers , it is claimed . It is believed the firm may have then sold the details of these customers to other companies , some of which appear to have shared directors and staff with the centre . Communications Minister Ed Vaizey said last night that such raids ‘ show the kind of menace we are dealing with ’ . The ICO ’ s David Clancy , who carried out a month-long investigation into the call centre , said : ‘ Our intelligence has identified this address as being responsible for making millions upon millions of recorded messages . The office , which is run from Gemini Business Centre in Hove , East Sussex , above , is said to have bombarded people with offers to consolidate debts or help them pursue compensation claim for mis-sold PPI . ‘ It is astounding to think this one small company has the ability to pester millions of people with unwanted calls on a huge scale. ’ It comes a month after ministers vowed to clamp down on rogue cold-call firms and make it easier to punish offenders . Watchdogs must currently prove that victims suffered ‘ substantial harm or distress ’ for a civil prosecution . But that threshold will be scrapped from April 6 when a single complaint will be enough for legal action . They will be able to fine bosses of such companies as much as £500,000 . The existing penalty is £5,000 . The Government introduced the tougher measures after hearing evidence that six in ten households are reluctant to answer the phone because of nuisance calling . The ICO said the company invited victims to press nine to speak to a call handler regarding a PPI claim , or five to stop the calls . But there is evidence those who pressed five continued to be harassed , Mr Clancy said . It is not known how the centre obtained the 90million numbers . If it emerges the firm was passing on the details it held without being authorised , a criminal rather than civil investigation can be launched . Mr Clancy said : ‘ I have never seen an operation of this size . Those targeted will have included the elderly or people vulnerable for other reasons . We received a vast number of complaints from hundreds of people who were frightened by these calls. ’ He added that it is not known how much profit the company made , but that these sorts of operations tend to make at least six-figure sums . It is unclear whether the firm , which is run from Gemini Business Centre in Hove , alongside 30 other businesses , will continue to operate during the investigation . Tory MP Jackie Doyle-Price , of the all-party group on nuisance calls , urged authorities to ‘ name and shame ’ firms using the call centre . Base : The small firm is run from Gemini Business Centre in Hove , pictured , alongside 30 other businesses .
Call centre left 'millions upon millions ' of anonymous phone messages . It appeared to have 'cornered ' sizeable proportion of cold-call market . Office said to have bombarded people with offers to consolidate debts . Comment: