Further Charge Against Telemarketer

OTTAWA, July 26, 2002 — The Competition Bureau announced today that a charge was laid against one telemarketer for his role in relation to the misleading representations and deceptive marketing practices provisions of the Competition Act.

Gerald Goldstein was charged in the district of Montreal under the Competition Act for aiding and abetting, as provided under the Criminal Code, for making false and misleading representations to Canadian consumers. The misrepresentations related to the winning of prizes and the quality, value and nature of the prizes and other promotional products under the business names S.D. Prestige Enterprises, Farber Blake Corporation and J.C.&A.

These charges follow charges under the misleading representation and deceptive marketing practices provisions of the Competition Act laid against S.D. Prestige Enterprises, Farber Blake Corporation and J.C.&A., their principal directors and individual telemarketers on June 27, 2001. The Bureau laid further charges against other individual telemarketers in this matter on July 18, 2002.

"These charges signal the Bureau's ongoing efforts to pursue all individuals responsible for deceptive telemarketing which targets thousands of Canadian consumers," said Raymond Pierce, Deputy Commissioner, Fair Business Practices Branch.

The charges were laid with the assistance of Project Colt, a joint task force based in Montreal. Project Colt was set up to investigate telemarketing and mail fraud and consists of Canadian and U.S. law enforcement agencies, of which the Competition Bureau is a member.

Consumers who suspect they have been the victim of deceptive telemarketing are encouraged to contact the Competition Bureau's Information Centre at 1-800-348-5358, or Project PhoneBusters at 1-888-495-8501.

The Competition Bureau is an independent law enforcement agency that promotes and maintains fair competition so that all Canadians can benefit from competitive prices, product choice and quality service. It oversees the application of the Competition Act, the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act, the Textile Labelling Act and the Precious Metals Marking Act.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Eric Glaude
Communications Officer
Communications Branch
819-994-0349; 613-296-6378 (cell)