The ACCC is set to clamp down on websites targeting consumers with misleading or fraudulent claims with a coordinated international internet sweep.
The consumer watchdog will lead the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN) to uncover and disrupt fraudulent websites offering consumers a quick fix for their problems.
ICPEN president and acting ACCC chairman Peter Kell said this year’s event is focusing on so called ‘crisis scams’ that exploit consumers concerned about the global financial crisis.
“The sweep aims to disrupt scammers from exploiting the global financial crisis or other economic pressures to mislead consumers,” Kell said.
According to Kell, the sweep will be broad and target a range of scams.
“We’re talking about a very wide variety of scams here. It might be fake websites that have been set up to steal people’s money or indeed their personal identity. Some of these websites can look very professional,” he said.
Kell explained there will be 40 countries participating in the internet sweep.
“If there are sites that are identified where we can seek to cooperate with agencies in other jurisdictions to shut them down then we’ll do so,” he said.
Consumers can find out more about the common features of scams by visiting the ACCC’s SCAMwatch website.
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