[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 197 (Thursday, October 11, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 51959]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-25551]



[[Page 51959]]

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FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION


Announcement of Public Workshop on Office and Cleaning Supply 
Fraud

AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission.

ACTION: Announcement of public workshop on office and cleaning supply 
fraud.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Trade Commission will hold a public workshop on 
November 8, 2001, to explore the marketing practices of the office and 
cleaning supply industry.
    Dates and Location: The workshop will be held on November 8, 2001, 
at the Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC from 8:15 
a.m. to 5:00 p.m. There is no fee to attend the workshop. Advance 
registration is requested but not required. In addition, written 
statements responding to the workshop topics below and other issues 
would be appreciated in advance. You may register in advance via email 
to [email protected] or by calling Janet Wright at (202) 326-2832.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elena Paoli, Attorney, Bureau of 
Consumer Protection; phone (202) 326-2974; fax (202) 326-2558; email 
[email protected]; 601 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Room S-4623, Washington, DC 
20580.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background and Workshop Goals

    As part of the Commission's ongoing efforts to combat office and 
cleaning supply fraud, the Commission requests information from and the 
participation of interested parties. Since the Telemarketing Sales 
Rule's issuance in December 1995,\1\ the Commission has filed more than 
20 lawsuits against office and cleaning supply telemarketing 
operations. Almost all of the victims in these cases have been small 
businesses and non-profit organizations.\2\ Consumer complaint data 
shows that office supply fraud is not abating.
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    \1\ 16 CFR part 310.
    \2\ Commission Testimony, Senate Small Business Committee, March 
27, 2000, p. 1.
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    The Commission is interested in exploring current marketing 
practices in the office and cleaning supply industry and how the sales 
practices of office and cleaning supply telemarketers have changed 
since the Rule's inception. Information about how businesses and 
organizations purchase office supplies would also be helpful. The goal 
of the upcoming workshop is to educate the Commission and the public 
about current business practices of office supply telemarketers and 
what further law enforcement or education efforts could help eradicate 
fraud in this industry.

Topics To Be Addressed

     How the frauds work.
     Federal and state law enforcement initiatives.
     Business education efforts.
     Principal sales methods of industry members.
     Role of online sales and faxes.
     The use of fulfillment houses.
     Principal buying patterns of businesses and organizations.
     Impact of Telemarketing Sales Rule on industry marketing 
methods.
     Current frauds.
     Additional ways to educate businesses.
     Increasing protections for business through the TSR, 
including additional mandatory disclosures and requiring invoices to 
accompany products.
    An agenda and additional information will be posted on the 
Commission's web site, www.ftc.gov, in advance of the workshop.

    By direction of the Commission.
Donald S. Clark,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-25551 Filed 10-10-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6750-01-M