OTTAWA - Criminal charges have been laid against two Toronto-based telemarketing operations accused of billing businesses in Canada and the U.S. for toner products that they never ordered.

The companies accused of the offences operated under the names Lexan International Corp. and H&P Communications. Additionally, Calcom Business Centre, Lexam International Corp. and MPL were also business names used by the accused. Operations owner Edward Harry Leefe, and office manager Shirley Herrell have been arrested and charged with violating the Competition Act and the Criminal Code of Canada.

The arrests were made with the help of the Toronto Strategic Partnership, a group of policing organizations throughout North America, which includes the Competition Bureau, Phonebusters, and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

Individuals who think they may have been a victim of this crime or any other deceptive telemarketing operation are encouraged to contact the Competition Bureau at 1-800-348-5358 or online at http://www.cb-bc.gc.ca.

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