| Competition Bureau
Competition Bureau To Spearhead First
International Anti-Fraud Public Education Campaign
Canada, U.S. and U.K. Urge Consumers to Recognize, Report and
Stop Fraud
TORONTO, Ontario,
March 2, 2004 — In the first international effort of its kind,
an anti-fraud education campaign launched today by the Competition
Bureau will be adopted for use in the United States and will
be made available to partners in the United Kingdom.
The information campaign is the result of a partnership with
the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), the Royal Canadian Mounted
Police (RCMP), the private sector and consumer groups, and
is designed to help consumers recognize, report and stop fraud.
“It is estimated that fraud and identity theft cost Canadians
billions of dollars each year,” said the Honourable Lucienne
Robillard, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for
the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions
of Quebec. “The best way to stop fraud is to recognize it.
That is why we are launching this international public awareness
campaign - awareness is prevention.”
“Both businesses and consumers are being ripped off by these
sophisticated crooks,” said Sheridan Scott, Commissioner,
Competition Bureau. “This is a problem that’s too big for
one person or one organization to address. I’m very encouraged
that this unique coalition, including the private sector,
different levels of government, consumer groups and law enforcement,
has come together to create a program that can be used around
the world.”
“Fraud is a cross-border and transatlantic issue,” said Timothy
J. Muris, Chairman of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
“No matter where they are, consumers face these frauds every
day. The FTC is proud to work with Canada on an international
solution for this international problem.”
“We at the Office of Fair Trading fully support this campaign
initiative as an added solution to meeting the global problem
of mass marketing scams,” said Christine Wade, Director of
Consumer Regulation and Enforcement, Office of Fair Trading,
United Kingdom. “We enthusiastically encourage this type of
progress in implementing public awareness campaigns.”
All Canadians are at risk of being victimized by scam artists,
no matter their age, education or income.
“At the RCMP, we see Canadians who lose anywhere from $20
to hundreds of thousands of dollars,” said Sgt. Gilles Déziel,
RCMP spokesperson. “Many scams are sophisticated and are carried
out by persuasive, persistent and even aggressive criminals,
who just want your money. It is important that Canadians learn
how to recognize these frauds so that they don’t become victims.”
“A great deal of these crimes are never reported. If you think
scam artists are calling you, call us. For more than 10 years,
PhoneBusters, a joint initiative of the OPP and RCMP, taking
calls from all across the country and helping our law enforcement
partners crack down on these crimes,” said OPP Detective Constable
Gus LaForge. “It’s important for Canadians to know that if
they think an e-mail, phone or mail offer sounds too good
to be true, or if they believe they’ve been a victim of fraud,
they can call PhoneBusters or visit the PhoneBusters Web site.”
Supporting materials for the fraud campaign, including brochures,
posters, bill stuffers and retail counter information cards,
will be distributed by partners in the Fraud Prevention Forum.
Consumers can find out more by visiting http://www.phonebusters.com.
The Fraud Prevention Forum is a concerned group of private
sector firms, consumer and volunteer groups, government agencies
and law enforcement organizations, who are committed to fighting
fraud aimed at consumers and businesses. Its mandate is to
prevent Canadians from becoming victims of fraud through awareness
and education, as well as to increase reporting when it occurs.
The Competition Bureau is an independent law enforcement agency
that ensures that all Canadians enjoy the benefits of a competitive
economy. It oversees the application of the Competition Act,
the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act, the Textile Labelling
Act and the Precious Metals Marking Act.
version disponible en français
For more information, please contact:
Daniel Grenier
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Lucienne Robillard
Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Economic
Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
(613) 995-9001
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