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FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY - NOT FOR RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION CRM WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1997 (202) 514-2008 TDD (202) 514-1888





BRIEFING ON U.S.- CANADA REPORT ON CROSS-BORDER

COOPERATION AGAINST TELEMARKETING FRAUD

WASHINGTON, DC -- Senior Litigation Counsel Jonathan J. Rusch will hold a conference call briefing on the report of the United States-Canada Working Group on Telemarketing Fraud. The briefing will take place on Thursday, November 20, at 2:00 pm (with a second call at 2:45 if necessary to accommodate interested reporters).

The report stems from a six-month process by the two governments to develop recommendations on ways to counter the serious and growing problem of cross-border telemarketing fraud, which is estimated to cost U.S. and Canadian citizens as much as $40 billion dollars per year.

The report examines the ways in which telemarketing fraud is committed; legal issues and options; consumer education and prevention; and cross-border cooperation and strategy. The report and the group's recommendations on ways in which the two countries can improve their anti-telemarketing fraud enforcement efforts are being transmitted to President Clinton and Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien today.

If you are interested in participating in the conference call, please call Mike Tonsing or Mindi Mysliwiec in DOJ's Office of Public Affairs at (202) 616-2008.

Copies of the report will be available at the Department of Justice at noon on November 20. A press release, the report's executive summary and the group's recommendations will be faxed to participants prior to the briefing.

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