Mass Marketing Scams

HC Deb 16 September 2004 vol 424 c1718WS

13. Mr. Blizzard

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will ask the Office of Fair Trading to investigate mass marketing scams. [189182]

Mr. Sutcliffe

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) does investigate mass marketing scams. Most mass marketing scams operate from outside the UK. The OFT works with the network of enforcement agencies called ICPEN (International Consumer Protection Enforcement Network) to investigate and take action against cross-border scams.

The OFT have taken a lead within Europe in taking action against scam mail under new powers provided by the Injunctions Directive and the Enterprise Act 2002 ('Stop Now Orders').