EU network to target cross-border scams

BRUSSELS, Feb 27 (Reuters) The European Union will launch a new law enforcement network tomorrow aimed at targeting cross-border scams such as bogus lotteries and holiday clubs.

The move is a bid to crack down on abuses ranging from refusals to give refunds for airline delays, pressure-selling of timeshare holidays and misleading holiday brochures, the EU's executive Commission said.

''Scams have got more mobile,'' a Commission spokeswoman said.

''Fraudsters using the Internet, e-mail, credit cards and mobile phones are operating very effectively in one country to target consumers in another.'' The new network places a legal requirement on police in the 27 EU member states to respond to inquiries from other member states and involves a secure system to share information.

Network members will meet four times a year in Brussels.

''This is a stronger system of cooperation between enforcement authorities in member states to try and clampdown on fraud schemes affecting EU consumers,'' the spokeswoman said.

A survey published in December showed that in Britain alone consumers lost about 6.88 million dollars to fraudsters a year, she said.

The Commission said the network would have the powers to conduct searches, impose fines and freeze the assets of fraudsters.

REUTERS MS RK1905