Crackdown closes UK websites

13 April 2012

EIGHT UK-based websites have been closed and 27 others have been forced to change their content following a multinational sweep of sites offering get-rich-quick schemes to adults and mobile phone services to children.

A conference of consumer enforcement agencies meeting in London was told action by 31 countries fighting criminal cross-border scams and misleading advertising resulted in 320 websites being closed down or amended, A further 307 sites, including 40 in the UK, are still under investigation.

The conference, hosted by the Office of Fair Trading, heard the sweep found scores of sites advertising ringtones, logos, pictures and games targeted at youngsters.

Many fail to provide basic information which could result in children being left with a hefty bill. Only 6% of websites displayed an age limit for those visiting even though 46% had references to violence, eroticism, alcohol and tobacco.

The International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN) also discussed how the internet was being used by criminals running scams.

The most common are those offering cash while 'working from home', which made up 27% of the total found by the operation.

A further 21% were 'get-rich-quick' schemes and 18% fell under the heading of pyramid and multi-level marketing deals.

Other topics include lottery scams, 'free' prize draws and the offer of educational qualifications.

Christine Wade, director of consumer regulation and enforcement at the OFT and president of ICPEN, said: 'Working with consumer enforcement agencies in other countries has delivered real tangible results in tackling cross-border scams.'

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