Sentencing in deceptive telemarketing case

News Release

October 28, 2016 — OTTAWA, ON — Competition Bureau

As the result of an investigation into a deceptive telemarketing operation in Montreal, a third individual was sentenced today to 16‑months of imprisonment to be served in the community and to two years’ probation for her role in defrauding businesses in Canada and the United States. She is also prohibited from engaging in telemarketing for 10 years.

Jacqueline Kolthoff pleaded guilty to nine counts of deceptive telemarketing under the Competition Act on November 3, 2015. Kolthoff, who will serve eight months under house arrest and an additional eight months under curfew, was director and manager of operations for telemarketing activities related to office supplies and medical kits.

Kolthoff, along with four others, was charged in December 2012 following an investigation by the Competition Bureau, supported by the Centre of Operations Linked to Telemarketing Fraud (COLT). The investigation determined that some of the alleged tactics used during the telemarketing calls included falsely implying that the caller represented a business that had an existing relationship with the victim’s company, indicating that certain products or services were required under government rules, or implying that the call was being made on behalf of a government agency.

In May 2015, Alberino Magi pleaded guilty to nine counts of deceptive telemarketing and one count of false or misleading advertising under the Competition Act, and received a conditional sentence of two years less a day.

In December 2013, Gilles Tremblay pleaded guilty to nine counts of deceptive telemarketing under the Competition Act and two counts of fraud under the Criminal Code, and was sentenced to nine months of house arrest.

Charges against the remaining two individuals are still before the courts.

Quick Facts

  • The telemarketing operation used the names "Global Electronic Solutions/Solutions Électroniques Global" and "Federal Emergency Medical Supply/Agence Federal des Produits Medicales" and promoted the sale of office supplies and medical kits to Canadian and American businesses.
  • The operation was shut down following a search of its premises by COLT in December 2006.
  • COLT is a cross‑border partnership of Canadian and American police and government agencies. Members include the Competition Bureau, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Sûreté du Québec, the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal, the Canada Border Services Agency as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security (Immigration & Customs Enforcement), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. COLT also works closely with Canada Post, the Canada Revenue Agency and the Canadian Anti‑Fraud Centre.

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, or the Competition Bureau at 1‑800‑348‑5358.

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The Competition Bureau, as an independent law enforcement agency, ensures that Canadian businesses and consumers prosper in a competitive and innovative marketplace.


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