Jail sentence ends Bureau case on fraudulent, misleading telemarketing calls

From: Competition Bureau Canada

News release

March 26, 2018 – OTTAWA, ON – Competition Bureau

Today, the last accused in a Competition Bureau deceptive telemarketing case, Mr. Randolph Misiurak, was sentenced to two years less a day in jail and three years of probation for defrauding businesses in Canada and the United States.

Mr. Misiurak, along with four others, was charged in December 2012 following an investigation by the Bureau, supported by the Centre of Operations Linked to Telemarketing Fraud (COLT). The investigation found that two telemarketing operations in Montreal were using fraudulent tactics. They were falsely implying that the caller represented a business that had an existing relationship with the victim’s company, indicating that certain products or services were required under government rules, or that the call was being made on behalf of a government agency.

Mr. Misiurak pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud under the Criminal Code last December. Two months prior, another accused, Alain Chikani, pleaded guilty to one count of criminal deceptive marketing under the Competition Act.

In total, this Bureau investigation led to five individuals pleading guilty and to 28 counts of deceptive telemarketing, four counts of fraud and one count of false or misleading representations.

Quotes

“Over the past five years, the Bureau and the Public Prosecution Service of Canada worked closely together to bring these scammers to justice. The Bureau is ready and prepared to take appropriate action against those who don’t play by the rules.”   

John Pecman,
Commissioner of Competition

Quick facts

  • The telemarketing operation used the names “Global Electronic Solutions/Solutions Électroniques Global” and “Federal Emergency Medical Supply/Agence Federal des Produits Medicales” and promoted the sale of office supplies and medical kits to Canadian and American businesses.

  • The operation was shut down following a search of its premises by COLT in December 2006.

  • COLT is a cross-border partnership of Canadian and American police and government agencies. Members include the Competition Bureau, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Sûreté du Québec, the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal, the Canada Border Services Agency as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security (Immigration & Customs Enforcement), the United States Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. COLT also works closely with Canada Post, the Canada Revenue Agency and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

  • Consumers who suspect that they have been victims of deceptive telemarketing are encouraged to contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501, or the Competition Bureau at 1-800-348-5358.

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The Competition Bureau, as an independent law enforcement agency, ensures that Canadian businesses and consumers prosper in a competitive and innovative marketplace.

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