FTC, Partners to Announce ‘Operation Tele-PHONEY’ Law Enforcement Sweep

Includes Actions Brought by More than 30 U.S. and Canadian Agencies Targeting Telemarketing Fraud

The Federal Trade Commission, together with more than 30 law enforcement partners from the United States and Canada, will announce the results of ‘Operation Tele-PHONEY’ at a joint press conference at FTC Headquarters in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. The sweep includes a range of cases targeting telemarketing fraud such as pitches for advance-fee loans and credit cards, supposedly free gifts and prize promotions, medical prescription drug plans, tax rebates, magazine subscriptions, and “low-cost” household products. The Commission also will announce a new consumer education campaign that includes a Web site and other materials designed to help people avoid becoming victims of telemarketing fraud. A spokesperson fluent in Spanish will be available at the event for interviews with Hispanic media.

WHAT:	Announcement of ‘Operation Tele-PHONEY’ Sweep
WHO:	William E. Kovacic, Chairman, Federal Trade Commission Rod J. Rosenstein, U.S. Attorney, District of Maryland Andrea Rosen, Competition Bureau Canada Lawrence Wasden, Idaho Attorney General Consumer Guest
WHEN:	Tuesday, May 20, 2008; 10:30 a.m. (doors open for camera set-up at 10:00 a.m.)
WHERE:	FTC Headquarters 600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, DC, Room 432
PRESS CONTACT:	Mitchell J. Katz, FTC Office of Public Affairs 202-326-2161

Call-in Information

Call-in lines are available for members of the press who cannot attend the event. To call in, dial: 866-363-9013 prior to the start of the event. In order to join the conference call, reporters must provide the operator with the following conference ID: 48086048.

Webcast Information

Reporters who are interested in this event but are unable to
attend can view it via Webcast by accessing the following link:
http://htc-01.media.globix.net/COMP008760MOD1/ftc_web/FTCindex.html.