WA to take part in second international sweep of the Internet [Audio]

10/9/98

Western Australia will take part in the second international sweep of the Internet today in a search for web sites which breach fair trading laws.

Fair Trading Minister Doug Shave said the sweep would involve more than 60 fair trading agencies in 25 nations and target sites making fraudulent health claims or offering 'miracle' cures.

"Billions of dollars are spent globally every year on unproven, fraudulently marketed or dangerous health care products and treatments," Mr Shave said.

"The 1998 Internet sweep will hone in on false or misleading advertising about the success, benefits or performance of such offers."

WA participated in the first international sweep last year, which identified 1,100 Internet sites offering dubious get-rich-quick schemes.

"Operators of those sites were sent educational e-mail messages. A follow-up visit to the sites a month later showed 28 per cent had been removed or modified to comply with the host country's fair trading laws," Mr Shave said.

Fair trading agencies were notified of potentially illegal sites located in their jurisdiction so that they could take further action if necessary.

Mr Shave said global co-operation was essential in the Internet age and he expected today's sweep would be as successful as last year's.

"Apart from the money people may waste on health scams, such web sites deserve scrutiny because people searching for effective treatment are often vulnerable," he said.

"In particular, sites making exaggerated claims about treatments for arthritis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and AIDS will be closely examined."

Note: Fair Trading officers will take part in the Internet sweep between 9 am and noon, Thursday September 10, at the Trade Measurement Unit, 321 Selby Street, Osborne Park (between Jon Sanders Drive and Scarborough Beach Road).

Media contact: John Clune 9366 0300