    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (1999, Book II)]
    [November 6, 1999]
    [Pages 2002-2003]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    November 6, 1999

        Good morning. Today I want to talk to you about new steps we're
    taking to make America safer for consumers, particularly for older
    Americans.
        For 7 years now, we've worked hard to build safer streets and
    stronger communities, and our strategy is working. We have the lowest
    crime rate in 30 years. Our Nation is safer. But no one really believes
    America is as safe as it can be. We have to fight all kinds of crime at
    every level.
        To many of our most vulnerable citizens, especially our seniors, the
    greatest threat may not come from a criminal on the street, but from a
    scam artist on the phone. Every year, illegal telemarketers bilk the
    American people of an estimated $40 billion, and more than half the
    victims are over 50 years of age.
        Telemarketing thieves are stealing more than money; they're stealing
    people's hopes and dreams and their security. In far too many cases,
    victims have been robbed of savings they've spent a whole lifetime
    building up. Some have even lost their homes as a result.
        Over the years, I've taken a number of steps to crack down on
    telemarketing fraud. I signed into law the toughest criminal penalties
    for telemarketing crimes in history. Our enforcement efforts have
    resulted in more than 300 convictions nationwide. But we have to do
    more.
        Today I am announcing important new tools to help government,
    organizations, and consumers take action, and I'm directing the Attorney
    General to send me a plan to crack down on consumer fraud. Specifically,
    I'm calling on the Justice Department to strengthen prevention and
    enforcement and improve coordination among the Federal Government,
    State, and local law enforcement officials and our consumer groups.
        Citizens also need new tools to take on telemarketing fraud and to
    find out where to go for help. According to a recent study, one out of
    four Americans said they wouldn't know where to turn if they were
    victimized by a telemarketing scam. This is an even greater concern as
    we enter the holiday season and the chance of becoming a victim of fraud
    rises.
        That's why today we're launching a new nationwide campaign to help
    consumers fight telemarketing ripoffs. It's called Project kNOw Fraud,
    and it's led by the U.S. Postal Service, the American Association of
    Retired Persons, the Council of Better Business Bureaus, the Department
    of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, the National Association of
    Attorneys General, and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
        This campaign will give consumers new resources to slam the phone on
    telemarketing scams. Beginning November 15th, every household in America
    will receive an easy-to-read postcard with commonsense tips and
    practical guidelines to prevent telemarketing fraud. This

    [[Page 2003]]

    is the largest consumer protection mailing in our history. It will
    provide information you can keep by the phone to help you distinguish
    between fraudulent and legitimate telemarketers. The bottom line is
    this: You must familiarize yourself with the telltale signs of fraud,
    and don't give out important personal financial information to an
    unknown caller.
        We're also establishing a new toll free number that will soon be up
    and running to help people who believe they've been the victims of
    telemarketing fraud. It will provide links to law enforcement officials
    who will be able to share information and track down patterns of fraud.
    As many as 1\1/2\ million callers are expected to utilize this new
    service every year. We've also created a new website for consumers to
    receive fraud prevention information and even file a complaint on-line.
    It can be found at www.consumer.gov.
        With our actions today we're sending a clear message to fraudulent
    telemarketers: We've got your number, and we won't let you off the hook.
        As we close out the budget season in Washington, I urge Congress to
    send the same message, to reject arbitrary, across-the-board cuts that
    will undermine our law enforcement efforts and instead send me a budget
    that will protect our families and our communities and advance our
    values.
        Let's all answer the call of the American people, put partisanship
    aside, and finish the work we've been sent here to do.
        Thanks for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 7:15 p.m. on November 5 in the Room
    137 at Englewood High School in Chicago, IL, for broadcast at 10:06 a.m.
    on November 6. The transcript was made available by the Office of the
    Press Secretary on November 5 but was embargoed for release until the
    broadcast.