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Directors of Infotel Charged With Deceptive Telemarketing
Ottawa, — The Competition Bureau announced today that criminal charges were laid against three Montreal brothers and six companies allegedly involved in deceptive telemarketing activities related to business directory scams.
The brothers, Gordon Frank (53), Theodore Frank (49) and Sean Frank (43), are alleged to have operated a telemarketing operation that targeted businesses and not-for-profit organizations in the United States, France and the United Kingdom.
The charges stem from a Bureau investigation into criminal deceptive telemarketing by a group of corporations led by the Frank brothers, collectively known as Infotel. The accused operated telemarketing offices in Toronto, St. John's and Montreal. These activities are estimated to have generated approximately $60 million in revenue between 1999 and 2004.
The Competition Bureau alleges that the Frank brothers' companies contacted businesses and not-for-profit organizations misrepresenting themselves as the victims' regular supplier of business directories. The Bureau also alleges that Infotel telemarketers failed to disclose material information when contacting businesses, including the true purpose of the call.
The Frank brothers conducted the alleged deceptive telemarketing activities under the following names: Infotel Directories Inc., Infotel Publications, Infotel Directories-Toronto, Metropolitan Media, Metropolitan Press and Infotel Canada.
The investigation was conducted with the assistance of the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal, the Toronto Strategic Partnership and the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary.
Consumers who suspect that they have been victims of deceptive telemarketing are encouraged to contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.
The Competition Bureau is an independent law enforcement agency that contributes to the prosperity of Canadians by protecting and promoting competitive markets and enabling informed consumer choice.
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Competition Bureau
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