Competition Bureau Wins Award for Collaboration in Combatting Online Health Fraud

OTTAWA, December 1, 2008 — The Competition Bureau has been recognized by the Community of Federal Regulators for its outstanding collaboration work on Project False Hope - Combatting Cancer Fraud. This education and enforcement initiative, which was launched in March 2008, targets cancer-related health fraud online.

In collaboration with domestic and international partners, such as Health Canada, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Bureau has successfully taken action against almost 100 Canadian-operated sites, who complied with the Bureau’s demand to modify or remove their claims concerning cancer-related products and treatments when questioned about whether they were substantiated by adequate and proper scientific evidence. The Bureau used a combination of Internet surveillance and adaptive investigative techniques to identify these online scams.

The Bureau has also partnered with the Canadian Cancer Society in the launch of an educational pamphlet to provide consumers with information on how to protect themselves from fraudulent health claims, to better recognize scams and to avoid falling victim.

Almost nine million Canadians refer to the Internet for health-related information. Once online, they are often at risk of being exposed to unproven and fraudulent cures or treatments that can cheat them of time, money, and most importantly, their health. By working collaboratively with national and international partners on enforcement and education, the Bureau aims to reduce economic and health-related harm to Canadians.

Competitive markets are responsible for delivering many of the products and services on which our health system relies. Because of their importance to the welfare of Canadians, health-related markets have been a key enforcement and advocacy priority of the Bureau for several years. Bogus weight-loss schemes, cure-all scams or products claiming amazing health effects are some of the many areas of health fraud targeted by the Bureau.

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
Senior Advisor
Communications & Stakeholder Relations
819-953-8982

For general enquiries, please contact:
Information Centre
Competition Bureau
819-997-4282
1-800-348-5358