10 January 2007

MP WELCOMES CRACKDOWN ON CROSS-BORDER SCAMS

Welsh MP, MARTYN JONES (Clwyd South) has welcomed new EU regulations that will protect UK consumers from big cross-border scams and fraud.

The new measures - to be implemented this month - will help tackle rogue traders who prey on consumers across European borders, by establishing a network of national enforcement bodies with powers to work together across the EU.

The Consumer Protection Co-operation (CPC) regulation will be enforced in the UK by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).

While the OFT already protects consumers against scams in the UK, the new measures will improve protection against scams that have originated abroad.

The new regualtions will tackle cross-border scams including:

* email scams and illegal prize draws;

* misleading advertising and pressure selling;

* phone scams based in other EU countries; and,

* timeshare and holiday club rogue traders.

The CPC regulation is designed to eliminate barriers and gaps in cross-border enforcement.

National enforcement bodies will be required to help each other by exchanging information and co-operating on cross-border cases.

Previously, wide differences in the structures and methods of enforcement authorities have hampered prosecutions.

Commenting on the new measures, Martyn Jones MP said:

"There has been a significant increase in the number of fraudsters and crooks across the European Union, preying on unsuspecting consumers with various types of scams.

"This new regulation means that they will no longer be able to hide behind EU borders.

"EU Member states will now have powers to implement 'joined-up' enforcement across the EU, to stamp out such scams.

"This will also help legitimate businesses, who will also be protected from fraudsters in the marketplace."