Competition Bureau Partners with U.S. Law Enforcement in Operation Tele-PHONEY

WASHINGTON, May 20, 2008 — Law enforcement agencies in the United States and Canada today announced Operation Tele-PHONEY, a cross-border comprehensive attack on telemarketing fraud.

The sweep includes a range of cases targeting telemarketing fraud such as pitches for advance-fee loans and credit cards, supposedly free gifts and prize promotions, medical prescription drug plans, tax rebates, magazine subscriptions, and “low-cost” household products.

These actions showcase the productive enforcement relationship between the Competition Bureau and its American partners -- the Federal Trade Commission, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Department of Justice and State Attorneys General.

In the past two years, the Competition Bureau has benefitted immensely during its investigations from various information sharing protocols with the U.S.

• In 2006, Congress passed the U.S. Safe Web Act, allowing the FTC to share information with counterpart consumer protection and competition agencies abroad. The Bureau obtained information relevant to six of its investigations.
  
  
• Earlier this year, the Bureau signed a Cooperation Arrangement with the United States Postal Inspection Service to improve competition law enforcement in areas such as mass marketing fraud and other deceptive marketing practices with a cross-border component.

The Competition Bureau is an independent agency that contributes to the prosperity of Canadians by protecting and promoting competitive markets and enabling informed consumer choice.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Maureen McGrath
Competition Bureau
819-953-8982

For general enquiries, please contact:
Information Centre
Competition Bureau
819-997-4282