Nowhere to Hide

The Fraud Prevention Forum model has been adopted around the world. Thirty countries, who are members of ICPEN, the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network, hosted various Fraud Prevention Month activities this year.

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Australia
Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce (ACFT) Scam Awareness campaign: A two-week campaign focusing on increasing consumer awareness about scams and educating them on how to protect themselves from victimization. The ACFT has a range of community, non-government and private sector organizations as partners.
For more information, please visit: http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/142

Austria
A month-long campaign to educate the elderly about misleading sales practices.
For more information, please visit: http://www.bmwa.gv.at/BMWA/default.htm

Belgium
The three countries of the Benelux (Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxemburg) have developed awareness-raising tools for consumers about different types of fraud, such as money transfers, identity theft and misleading advertising, and tips to avoid it.
For more information, please visit: http://mineco.fgov.be/index.htm

Canada
The Competition Bureau chairs the Fraud Prevention Forum in Canada, which has been hosting annual Fraud Prevention Month activities since 2004. The goal of these month-long education campaigns is to significantly improve Canadians' awareness and understanding about the dangers of fraud and assist them in recognizing, reporting and stopping fraud. Campaign 2008 included weekly themes: fraud targeting youth; health fraud; fraud targeting small businesses and charities; and partners working together in the fight against fraud. Information about Campaign 2008, including news releases, interactive Web tools, and a list of partners, can be found at: http://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/fraud

Costa Rica
A two-week campaign aimed at providing information to consumers with respect to fraudulent practices.
For more information, please visit: http://www.consumo.go.cr/

Denmark
A month-long campaign with various activities aimed at raising awareness on the legal requirements concerning pricing information.
For more information, please visit: http://www.ks.dk/english/

Egypt
A month-long campaign featuring various activities using different channels aimed at educating citizens with respect to false advertising and misleading retail practices. For more information, please visit: http://www.cpa.gov.eg/english/index.htm

Estonia
A month-long campaign to educate consumers about proper practices when shopping online.
For more information, please visit: http://www.konkurentsiamet.ee/?lang=en

Finland
An educative campaign run by the Finnish Consumer Agency, which provides a Web site with a range of information about scams and fraud targeting consumers.
For more information, please visit: http://www.kuluttajavirasto.fi/en-GB/

Greece
A campaign with the emphasis on young consumers who are interested in buying goods using the Internet. For more information, please visit: http://www.efpolis.gr/

Hungary
A month-long campaign providing consumers with information about protecting themselves from fraud.
For more information, please visit: http://www.fvf.hu/

Ireland
A campaign targeting youth with emphasis on phishing scams. Students to receive information on how to recognize and avoid fraudulent activity.
For more information, please visit: http://www.nca.ie/eng/

Japan
A week-long campaign providing consumers information on how to recognize fraud.
For more information, please visit: http://www.jftc.go.jp/e-page/index.html

Latvia
A month-long campaign concentrating on educating consumers and business about insurance contracts.
For more information, please visit: http://www.ptac.gov.lv/

Lithuania
A month-long campaign focusing on providing consumers with information about proper price labeling.
For more information, please visit: http://www.vartotojoteises.lt/index.php?923021201

Mexico
A month-long campaign to increase consumers’ awareness about fraud when making Internet transactions.
For more information, please visit: http://www.profeco.gob.mx/

Netherlands
A month-long campaign during March focusing on misleading and aggressive sales tactics used to lure consumers into an agreement. The Netherlands also collaborated with Belgium and Luxembourg on other initiatives to raise consumer awareness about different types of fraud.
For more information, please visit: http://www.consumentenautoriteit.nl/

Norway
A month-long campaign with several activities to warn consumers about different types of scams and unsafe Internet and cell phone use.
For more information, please visit: http://www.forbrukerombudet.no/index.gan?id=490&subid=

Poland
A month-long campaign to promote the Act on Unfair Commercial Practices.
For more information, please visit: http://www.uokik.gov.pl/en/

Spain
A month-long campaign aimed at educating consumers with respect to fraud committed online, including lottery scams and phishing.
For more information, please visit: http://cec.consumo-inc.es/

Switzerland
A month-long prevention campaign focusing on business directories scams.
For more information, please visit: http://www.seco.admin.ch/index.html?lang=en

United Kingdom
A month-long campaign entitled Scams Awareness Month, which raises awareness about different scams, and targets various age groups in an effort to prevent consumers from becoming victims.
For more information, please visit: http://www.oft.gov.uk/

United States of America
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission participates in Fraud Prevention Month through its promotion of National Consumer Protection Week, an effort by a group of federal, state, and local government agencies and national consumer advocacy organizations to highlight consumer education efforts in the fight against fraud in communities across the nation.
For more information, please visit: http://www.ftc.gov/