Fraud - Recognize It. Report It. Stop It.

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FRAUD. RECOGNIZE IT. REPORT IT. STOP IT. (PDF; 1.9 MB; 12 Pages)

This brochure was prepared in partnership with the RCMP, Ontario Provincial Police and Phonebusters. The brochure is available in Adobe Acrobat format. To read Adobe Acrobat files, you may need to download and install the free Adobe Reader available from Adobe Systems Incorporated.

The Fraud Prevention Forum's anti-fraud public education campaign

On March 2, 2004, the Competition Bureau, as chair of the Fraud Prevention Forum, unveiled an anti-fraud public education campaign in Toronto, Ontario.

News Release

Commissioner Sheridan Scott, along with former Industry Minister Lucienne Robillard and campaign spokespersons RCMP Sergeant Gilles Déziel and OPP Detective Constable Gus Laforge, participated in the campaign launch, the first international effort of its kind to combat the growing epidemic of fraud targeted at consumers and businesses.

Photo of Speakers

Reporters from national and local newspapers and television were on hand to hear how consumers faced with fraud such as deceptive telemarketing, prize pitches and identity theft can learn to RECOGNIZE IT, REPORT IT and STOP IT.

How will consumers hear about this?

The campaign features a revamped Web site for PHONEBUSTERS - the Canadian Anti-fraud Call Centre and the campaign's key call to action. Campaign materials such as a 12-panel brochure (in French, English, Cantonese and Punjabi), retail ?take-one' cards, posters, speakers booths and other material have been created to help Forum partners educate consumers.

Organizations such as eBay, Western Union, MasterCard, Visa, the Canadian Bankers Association and others will use their many contact points with consumers such as Web sites, customer service centres, kiosks, and mailings to communicate the campaign's messages to Canadians. Local detachments of municipal, provincial and federal law enforcement authorities will offer additional opportunities for citizens to increase their awareness.

Consumer groups such as the Consumers Council of Canada and the Better Business Bureaus will distribute the educational material to Canadians through their own distribution networks. The Volunteer Centre is using these messages in its popular ABC's of Fraud education campaign to seniors groups across the country.

Internationally, the Federal Trade Commission is adapting the material for use throughout the United States. The Office of Fair Trading in the UK is supportive of the campaign and is looking for its own opportunities to use the campaign to educate its citizens.

To find out more, please visit the PhoneBusters Web site at www.phonebusters.com.