The Canadian Competition Bureau announced charges Friday against seven companies and eight people it accused of operating fraudulent business-supply schemes via telemarketing.
Operating from call centers in Toronto and Montreal, the companies called businesses, claiming to be their regular supplier of business directories, credit card supplies and office toner, the bureau charged. Agents for the companies misrepresented product prices and delivery terms, and businesses subsequently received charges for products they had not ordered, according to the bureau's complaint.
The seven companies worked together, operating under business names such as Hanson Publications, Copier Supply Centre and Associated Merchant Paper Supplies, the bureau said. The investigation is ongoing, so more charges are possible, according to the bureau.
Canadian law enforcement agencies including the Ontario, Toronto and Montreal police and the Ontario Ministry of Consumer and Business Services received assistance from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the Postal Inspection Service in the investigation.
