Internet sites promoting miracle cures for any and all ailments will go under the scalpel in this year's world-wide International Internet Sweep Day.
Organised by Australia's national consumer protection agency, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, the sweep day will involve more than 60 law enforcement agencies from 25 countries.
Last year's sweep, which concentrated on get-rich-quick schemes, removed 297 scams from the Internet, including some via prosecutions.
This year's sweep is hunting out sites that offer products with 'miracle cure' health claims - claims too good to be true.
Consumer protection officers all over the world will spend tomorrow (Thursday September 10) searching Internet for scamsters who prey on the sick.
Once a site is identified, officers will examine its claims and back-track its originating country. Warning messages will be sent to the site and local agencies informed for follow-up.
'Internet commerce is booming world-wide,' ACCC Chairman, Professor Allan Fels, said today. 'But, like in old methods of commerce, there are people out there only to willing to exploit people's hopes and fears - and part them from substantial sums of money.
'The ACCC, in preliminary sweeps, has noted sites that prey on the ill and has begun receiving complaints about such sites.
'So it has decided that this should be the focus of this year's sweep.
'Thousands of sites will be 'swept', sorting the illicit from the legitimate.
'The Internet is a powerful information tool, and one where consumers' rights must be protected.'
Professor Fels said the results of the sweep would be highlighted at the Sydney Global Commerce Conference to be held in Sydney from 9-11 November.
'This conference will bring together international experts to progress planning strategies to make the developing global marketplace user-friendly and safe.
'The conference will cover issues such as enforcement of consumer protection law, industry initiatives in relation to consumer guarantees and appropriate rule making.'
Organised by Australia's national consumer protection agency, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, the sweep day will involve more than 60 law enforcement agencies from 25 countries.
Last year's sweep, which concentrated on get-rich-quick schemes, removed 297 scams from the Internet, including some via prosecutions.
This year's sweep is hunting out sites that offer products with 'miracle cure' health claims - claims too good to be true.
Consumer protection officers all over the world will spend tomorrow (Thursday September 10) searching Internet for scamsters who prey on the sick.
Once a site is identified, officers will examine its claims and back-track its originating country. Warning messages will be sent to the site and local agencies informed for follow-up.
'Internet commerce is booming world-wide,' ACCC Chairman, Professor Allan Fels, said today. 'But, like in old methods of commerce, there are people out there only to willing to exploit people's hopes and fears - and part them from substantial sums of money.
'The ACCC, in preliminary sweeps, has noted sites that prey on the ill and has begun receiving complaints about such sites.
'So it has decided that this should be the focus of this year's sweep.
'Thousands of sites will be 'swept', sorting the illicit from the legitimate.
'The Internet is a powerful information tool, and one where consumers' rights must be protected.'
Professor Fels said the results of the sweep would be highlighted at the Sydney Global Commerce Conference to be held in Sydney from 9-11 November.
'This conference will bring together international experts to progress planning strategies to make the developing global marketplace user-friendly and safe.
'The conference will cover issues such as enforcement of consumer protection law, industry initiatives in relation to consumer guarantees and appropriate rule making.'