| 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
Detective Constable Gus LaForge
PhoneBusters
Ontario Provincial Police (705) 494-3620
Maureen McGrath
Senior Communications Advisor
Competition Bureau(819) 953-8982 or (613) 296-2187 (cell)
Sgt. Gilles Déziel
Media Relations
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (613) 993-2999
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