Competition Bureau
Competition Bureau Joins Federal Trade Commission in Educating Consumers About Internet Weight-Loss ScamsOttawa, September 28, 2005 - The Competition Bureau is pleased to announce its collaboration with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) through the Canadian registration and French translation of the FTC’s FatFoe "educational teaser" Web site aimed at informing consumers of weight-loss scams on the Internet. This initiative is composed of a "teaser" site which exposes seven of the most outrageous weight- loss claims found on the Internet. When consumers go online to purchase or learn more about the fictitious FatFoe product, they receive a warning through an information pop-up advising them of the fraudulent nature of the claims, and preventing them from being duped into making a purchase. The Bureau views this initiative as an educational tool not only for consumers who increasingly purchase products over the Internet, but as well for businesses who may not be fully aware of their legal obligations under the Competition Act. The Bureau and the FTC have enjoyed a strong cooperative relationship in investigating cross-border fraud, especially as it relates to Internet scams. With the FatFoe initiative, the agencies’ scope of cooperation has now expanded into the areas of outreach and consumer education. Bogus weight-loss claims account for a large proportion of Internet health fraud and target vulnerable consumers who are desperate to find a solution to their weight problems. Health fraud is a priority for the Bureau and the FatFoe initiative is complementary to other efforts including Project FairWeb, the Bureau’s Internet surveillance and enforcement program aimed at combatting misleading and deceptive advertising found on the Internet. 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 services. It oversees the application of the Competition Act, the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act, the Textile Labelling Act and the Precious Metals Marking Act. Federal Trade Commission News Release
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Created: 2005-09-28 Updated: 2006-10-10 |
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