Established
in January of 1993, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (formerly
PhoneBusters) is jointly managed by the Royal Canadian Mounted
Police, the Ontario Provincial Police, and the Competition
Bureau of Canada.
The
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) is the central agency in
Canada that collects information and criminal intelligence
on mass marketing fraud (telemarketing), advance fee fraud
letters (e.g. West African), internet fraud and identity theft
complaints, that have Canadian content, from North American
consumers and/or victims. The CAFC does not conduct investigations,
but provides valuable assistance to law enforcement agencies
all over the world.
The
CAFC plays a key role in educating the public about specific
fraudulent schemes and in the collection and dissemination
of victim information, statistics and documentation, in order
to provide investigative assistance to all law enforcement
agencies. The data collected and analyzed at the CAFC serves
as a valuable tool in evaluating the effects of various types
of fraud on the public. It also helps to prevent future similar
crimes from taking place.
The
CAFC also operates the SeniorBusters program, presently consisting
of more than 60 volunteer senior adults who help combat mass
marketing fraud practices against seniors. The SeniorBusters
program offers education, counseling and referrals to senior
victims of illegal mass marketing fraud and identity theft/fraud.
The
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre provides a national integrated environment
that facilitates the coordination, collaboration and education
of strategies and practices to disrupt and dismantle serious
fraud and illegal mass marketing fraud schemes involving Canadians.
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