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COLT Targets an Organization Suspected of Involvement in MONTRÉAL, Tuesday, October 9, 2007 – COLT Special Squad (Centre of Operations Linked to Telemarketing) conducted a number of searches this morning in Montréal. The police operation targeted a well-structured organization suspected of being involved in mass marketing fraud and believed to have made some 1,500 victims. So far, the ongoing investigation has led to the arrest of several suspects. The subjects could face charges under the Criminal Code, Competition Act and other relevant acts. The victims of the suspected criminal organization are mainly small and medium size businesses, not only Canadian but also American and even European. Three types of scams In the second scheme, the telemarketers allegedly posed as office supplies dealers and sent paper products to businesses. When a client, surprised by the high cost of the supplies, tried to return the items, the so-called supplier threatened to sue the company claiming that the returns deadline had expired. Finally, in a third scheme, the telemarketers promoted the sale of a telephone directory promising to publish the client’s name and address which, in fact, never appeared in the delivered directory. A priority for the RCMP COLT involves the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Sûreté du Québec (SQ), City of Montreal Police Service, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Canada Competition Bureau – Québec Region, as well as American partners such as the US Homeland Security (ICE), US Postal Service, Federal Trade Commission and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Keeping informed to prevent fraud COLT is appealing to the public both in Canada and the United States to report any information on the existence of a mass marketing fraud ring. All criminal intelligence will help us combat criminal organizations involved in this type of crime. Victims are invited to contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Center (Phonebusters) at 1 888 495-8501. To help consumers protect themselves against this type of crime, they are invited to visit the RCMP Internet site at the following address: www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/qc/pro_ser/colt/accueil_colt_e.htm. - 30 - For information: |
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