EU tackles telephone and internet scams

3.40.57pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 3rd Feb 2005

Euro-MPs and EU governments are set to agree new European legislation that will put a stop to telephone prize scams and crack down on rogue internet trading.

In the light of this week's revelations from the Office of Fair Trading that Britons lose out from marketing scams to the tune of £1bn a year, the news will be welcomed by those who have suffered in this way.

Baroness Sarah Ludford, Liberal Democrat MEP for London, said:

"Most people have experienced the nuisance of unwanted phone calls telling us we've won a prize which - if returned - involve a premium rate call lasting several minutes. Many of these traders base themselves in another country to escape action."

"This is why legislative changes are being championed by Liberal Democrat MEPs to make misleading phone marketing illegal."

In addition, MEPs want EU law to be changed to stop trade vendors on websites like eBay posing as private sellers.

The EU has built up a body of consumer protection measures to protect people from rip-offs and intrusion. In December 2003, new anti-spam rules came into force in the UK as a result of EU legislation. These prevent marketing emails being sent without the recipient's consent.

Ends

Note: The law being considered in the European Parliament is the draft "Unfair Commercial Practices Directive".