N.B.I.E. National Business Information Exchange Telemarketing Scam needs to be stopped Sick of the Harrassment ripoff Chesapeake Beach Maryland

Dear Rebecca,

It helps to realize that these creeps are actually in Canada. Also, reporting them to the Attorney General of the state that their "mail drop" is in. In this case, Maryland, really helps to cool their enthusiasm for collecting their imaginary debt.

Canada's reputation as a haven for scamsters is due in part because the Competition Bureau lacks money to battle international cartels and telemarketing fraud, according to the bureau's commissioner Konrad von Finckenstein, who says his $34-million budget needs an $11-million boost to attack the problems. Telemarketing fraud in Canada is particularly troublesome for other countries, he said. "We need the money to fight telemarketing scams. It's becoming a real growth industry," he said. "As soon as you put one outfit out of business, a new one appears. It's a plague on the landscape. We're seen as a haven for scamsters. They can locate in Canada and pick on victims in the States, Australia, U.K., etc."

On October 3, the Federal Solicitor and RCMP Commissioner launched a new Internet-based tool for reporting economic crimes online (RECOL): www.recol.ca. RECOL is a web-based crime reporting centre offering Canadians a single point of entry to make a complaint on frauds and other white-collar crimes. The complaints will be directed to the appropriate law enforcement agencies and other organizations concerned with white-collar crime.

Support for people filing complaints to RECOL is provided by PhoneBusters National Call Centre, which was established 10 years ago to combat deceptive telemarketing. Other partners in the development of RECOL include the Ontario Provincial Police and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The on-line reporting centre was enacted amidst growing accusations that Canada has become a international centre for fraud affecting other countries. Deceptive telemarketing is spreading like a plague in Canada, according to the Canadian Competition Bureau, which works with the police to fight telemarketing fraud as part of its mandate to protect consumers and promote a competitive marketplace. The office has laid 55 charges in connection with deceptive telemarketing in the past few years, and spends half its office's resources fighting it. Canada is becoming a bit of haven for organizations to set up shop and bilk foreigners, including Americans and Europeans, as well as Canadians, through telemarketing scams, says George Bennett, assistant deputy commissioner of competition in the Bureau. He adds that Canadian-based scams are estimated to be netting anywhere between $1 billion to $5 billion from around the world. On any given day, there are 500 to 1,000 boiler rooms operating in Canada.

Sources: Federal Solicitor General launches new Internet site for Canadians to report economic crimes. Solicitor General News Release. October 3, 2003. // Lesley Young.Canada becomes fraud haven. Marketing Magazine. August 25/September 1, 2003. // Ken Gray. Von Finckenstein calls for budget increase: Competition Bureau shortfall hurting Canada's reputation. Financial Post (National Post). June 21, 2003: p. FP5.