Markets Wired

The Federal Trade Commission has renewed its partnership with law enforcement agencies in Saskatchewan, Canada, through December 31, 2018, to combat fraudulent cross-border marketing practices.

The FTC entered into an agreement with Canadian counterparts in 1995 to fight deceptive marketing and fraud, and over the years has received and provided significant investigational assistance, including information sharing, intelligence gathering, cooperation on parallel files, and training. The Saskatchewan Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Establishment of Joint Enforcement Initiative Regarding Enforcement of Deceptive Marketing Practices Laws, initially created in June 2010, was re-signed in October 2011 for an initial term that expired on December 31, 2013.

Under the MOU, one of six regional partnerships with Canadian law enforcement agencies, the partners agree to use “best efforts to cooperate” with investigations involving cross-border deceptive marketing practices from Saskatchewan into the United States, and vice versa. It also contemplates cooperation in joint investigations and regular meetings, and requires participants to maintain the confidentiality of shared information.

The Saskatchewan Partnership includes the FTC, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Justice, the Competition Bureau of Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Saskatoon and Regina Police Services, and Canada Post.

The Commission vote approving the memorandum of understanding was 5-0.

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 2,000 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s website provides free information on a variety of consumer topics. Like the FTC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.