Telemarketer Fined $1-million

OTTAWA, May 29, 2007 -- The Competition Bureau announced today that Michael Mouyal, 53, of Montreal, has been fined $1,000,000 for his role in a deceptive telemarketing scam that generated over $136-million in deceptive sales during a six-year period. In addition, Mr. Mouyal received two years probation, 240 hours of community service and a 10-year prohibition order. Mouyal operated the scam under a number of names -- Commercial Business Supplies; Merchant Transaction Supplies; Merchant Supply Services and International Business Directories

The Court of Quebec at the Palais de Justice in Montreal rendered the sentence, following an investigation by the Competition Bureau under the deceptive telemarketing provisions of the Competition Act. The scam operated from boiler rooms in Toronto, Montreal, and St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.

As part of the scam, not-for-profit organizations, businesses and government agencies in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom were contacted by telemarketers who claimed to be their regular supplier of office supplies or business directories and were calling to renew previous orders from the victims. The scam was based on creating the false and misleading impression that a previous business relationship existed between the telemarketing operation and its victims. Businesses would then receive overpriced office supplies or virtually useless business directories that they would not have ordered were it not for the false and misleading representations.

“Everyone is a potential target of deceptive telemarketing,” said Raymond Pierce, Deputy Commissioner, Competition Bureau. “Individuals engaged in deceptive telemarketing are warned that the Bureau will continue to combat this criminal activity through rigorous investigation and prosecution of those involved.”

The following individuals and corporations have already plead guilty and were sentenced: Justin Pold, 39, Montreal; Randolph Misiurak, 41, Montreal; Stéphane Ouellet, 42, Montreal; Charles McCulloch, 39, Toronto; François Lefort, 38, Montreal; 153595 Canada Inc.; 162013 Canada Inc.; 162014 Canada Inc.; 174440 Canada Inc.; M.M. International Business Directories Ltd.; and 3350550 Canada Inc.

The Competition Bureau is an independent law enforcement agency. We contribute to the prosperity of Canadians by protecting and promoting competitive markets and enabling informed consumer choice.

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Maureen McGrath
Competition Bureau
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