UK to lead anti-spam and scam drive

The UK has put spam and internet scams high on the agenda after taking over the presidency of the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network.

Set up in 1992, the group consists of government and law enforcement agencies and aims to promote the uptake of consumer laws across borders, including a co-ordinated annual worldwide internet sweep for rogue websites.

Christine Wade, director for consumer regulation enforcement at the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), who will lead the UK's presidency, said in a statement: "We have to find a way to keep ahead of those who target consumers with unfair or illegal trading practices.

"Effective exchange of intelligence, and a focused view on what can be achieved by drawing global enforcers together, will be key priorities for the year."

The OFT will also be co-hosting a spam workshop on 11 October with the US Federal Trade Commission, which will look at how to achieve globally co-ordinated enforcement against unlawful and deceptive spam.

The UK will also host conferences in London on 7 and 8 October 2004 and in Edinburgh in March 2005.

Those invited to attend include the European Commission, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and delegates from over 30 countries.

The conferences will focus on the most common problems such as fake lottery and prize draw scams.