THE US Federal Trade Commission has already prosecuted companies using the Internet for fraudulent purposes, according to ETC member, Mr Roscoe B. Starek.
"Advances in communications technologies allow fraudulent marketers to communicate easily with their victims in foreign countries and to transfer their ill gotten gains across borders," he said.
"The trans national nature of a scam may make it very difficult for law enforcers to catch the perpetrators and to compensate the victims. In particular, complicated questions of jurisdiction and choice of law can pose barriers to effective enforcement."
Mr Starek gave examples of the action the Commission has taken, including getting the assets of fraudulent companies frozen in other countries, pending litigation. It had also obtained orders, banning telemarketers from participating again in the telemarketing business, or requiring them to post substantial bonds" before continuing business.
He also described the help which voluntary consumers organisations could give in combating telemarketing fraud by helping to compile a database of alleged fraudsters. "For example, the system can generate a report, listing art investment telemarketers in a particular region of the country by dollar, volume of complaints," he said.
However, he admitted there was little pressure in the US for regulation of the Internet.
"The Internet knows no borders. It frequently has been compared to the American Wild West of the 1800s a place where lawlessness reigned and order was enforced by self appointed vigilantes. Many Internet users seem to relish this concept.
With the exception of concerns about protect in children there have been few calls in the United, States for a sheriff to come and impose law and order."