FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY - NOT FOR RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION CRM

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1997 (202) 514-2008

TDD (202) 514-1888

BRIEFING ON U.S.- CANADA REPORT ON CROSS-

BORDER

COOPERATION AGAINST TELEMARKETING FRAUD

WASHINGTON, DC -- Senior Litigation Counsel Jonathan J.

Rusch will hold a conference call briefing on the report of the
United States-Canada Working Group on Telemarketing Fraud.
The briefing will take place on Thursday, November 20, at 2:00
pm (with a second call at 2:45 if necessary to accommodate
interested reporters).

The report stems from a six-month process by the two

governments to develop recommendations on ways to counter the
serious and growing problem of cross-border telemarketing fraud,
which is estimated to cost U.S. and Canadian citizens as much as
$40 billion dollars per year.

The report examines the ways in which telemarketing fraud is

committed; legal issues and options; consumer education and
prevention; and cross-border cooperation and strategy. The report
and the group's recommendations on ways in which the two
countries can improve their anti-telemarketing fraud enforcement
efforts are being transmitted to President Clinton and Canadian
Prime Minister Jean Chretien today.

If you are interested in participating in the conference call, please

call Mike Tonsing or Mindi Mysliwiec in DOJ's Office of Public
Affairs at (202) 616-2008.

Copies of the report will be available at the Department of Justice

at noon on November 20. A press release, the report's executive
summary and the group's recommendations will be faxed to
participants prior to the briefing.

###

97-488