Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, CONSUMER PROTECTION NEWS: Montreal-based telemarketers sentenced for their role in deceptive telemarketing operation, (Jun 23, 2015)

By Michael Menzhuber, J.D., LL.M.

Three Montreal-based telemarketers have been sentenced by the Court of Québec for their role in a deceptive telemarketing operation, the Canada Competition Bureau announced today.

The telemarketing operation sold business directories, subscriptions to online directories, office supplies, and first aid kits, using misleading sales techniques that targeted thousands of businesses in Canada, the United States, Europe, and Central America. The products were sold under the company names of Merchant Retail Supplies, Electronic Transaction Supplies, Express Transaction Services, IT Data Direct, Mega Byte Information, International Secure Technologies, Paper Roll Logistics, and Services de fournitures aux détaillants.

The individuals who were sentenced are:

• Amalia DiFalco, a senior officer within the operation. She pleaded guilty on April 8 to charges of making misleading representations and engaging in deceptive telemarketing under the Competition Act. At that time, she was fined $50,000 and received a 15-month conditional sentence and 120 hours of community service.

• Éric Chenail. He pleaded guilty on April 16 to charges of making misleading representations and engaging in deceptive telemarketing under the Competition Act. On June 22, 2015, he was fined $10,000 and received a 4-month conditional sentence and 175 hours of community service.

• Carl Rubat-Du-Mérac. He pleaded guilty on April 16 to charges of engaging in deceptive telemarketing under the Competition Act. On May 29, he was ordered to make a donation of $5,000 to a charitable organization and received a 2-month conditional sentence and 175 hours of community service.

News: ConsumerProtection