CACN New Member Announcement

Western Union, a leader in cross-border, cross-currency money movement and payments, has joined CACN as a new member. Western Union seeks to disrupt financial flows relating to counterfeit goods by working closely with private industry and law enforcement partners and developing measures to identify and stop transactions involving counterfeit pharmaceuticals and other goods. To learn more about Western Union’s compliance program, read the Company’s 2020 Environmental, Social, and Governance Report here.

Western Union joins a stellar group of other CACN members who are determined to help combat counterfeit crime in Canada. Learn how you can help make a difference by joining CACN’s community today.

CACN Reinstates IPR Enforcement Working Group

It will take a community of partners to drive national IPR governance. The Canadian Anti-Counterfeiting Network (CACN) has formed an Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Enforcement Working Group that will meet in October to discuss and support the development of a national program to protect Canadians, as well as our economy, from counterfeiting, fraud and copyright piracy. Canada currently lacks a national reporting and tracking protocol to combat the growing problem of counterfeit goods. Without a national protocol, it is difficult to collect, analyze and share data and information to develop a strategic action plan among stakeholders and inter-agency partners,

The newly-formed Working Group includes a cross-section of public and private entities, including Health Canada, CBSA, the RCMP, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC), the Retail Council of Canada, and several other leading organizations. To learn more about this initiative and to explore how your organization can become involved, contact Swati Vora-Patel at secretariat@cacn.ca. 

COVID-19 Counterfeits

Buyer beware: COVID-19 scams and products are on the rise. In the midst of a global pandemic, fraudsters are facilitating scams worldwide. These products may be dangerous to your health.

Beware of These Fake COVID-19 Products, Services & Offers:

  • Masks
  • Coronavirus Test Kits
  • Hand Sanitizers
  • Some cleaning products (beware of inflated prices)
  • Miracle Cures
  • Drugs
  • Medical Devices
  • Vaccinations
  • Fradulent charities (verify that the charity is registered)
  • Unsolicited emails, texts requesting payment and/or offering compensation, financial relief etc.

Government Resources/ Information

Health Canada

Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre

Latest in the News

COVID-19: From Counterfeit medical masks to fake treatments to criminals cashing in on a pandemic

Counterfeit Goods: Hard to Resist, But Potentially Deadly

Crime Stoppers wants your tips on who’s selling things like fake makeup or electrical goods at a pop-up store or elsewhere. They might hurt you, burn you…maybe even kill you. Read full press release here.

Watch the Global T.V. interview ‘Global BC Crime Stoppers Asking for Help on Counterfeit Crimes’ below:

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CACN to Have Representation in Microscopy Training Program

A professor from UWO reached out to CACN requesting representation to participate in a unique training program on microscopic imaging techniques (see details below). Vladimir Gagachev, Eaton, and a member of CACN’s Steering Committee has offered to participate in this program as a representative of CACN. Vladimir’s technical background makes him a very good fit for this role. If members have any questions about this program, please contact Vladimir at VladimirVGagachev@eaton.com.

Background: The proposed “Meeting Microscopy Training Needs for Government, Industry, and Fundamental Research (MICROTRAIN) CREATE program aims to train highly-qualified personnel in advanced microscopic imaging techniques, as well as the digital transformation and analysis of collected data. Modern microscopes, and the digital data they collect, are essential tools in a variety of sectors, including government (forensic analysis, anti-counterfeiting, national defense, and health care), industry (manufacturing, pharmaceutical, consumer product, nuclear, and aerospace), and fundamental research.

Considering all segments and applications, the global microscopy market is poised to reach $6.72 billion (USD) by 2021, an impressive compound annual growth rate of 7.5% from $4.68 billion in 2016 (Markets and Markets). This CREATE program aims to train microscopy experts for employment in these strategic sectors and to enable the translation of microscopy-based fundamental research from academic labs to industry, for the benefit of all Canadians. This Letter of Intent involves 11 applicants, nine confirmed industrial partners, and four institutional facilities, which will push the frontiers of microscopy techniques and provide Canada with industry-ready HQP.

 

CACN’s Cyber Security Consultation Submission

CACN has proposed that the government institute a new federal office charged with protecting innovators, consumers, and legitimate businesses from increasing harms of counterfeit goods, online piracy and fraud. The new federal office would eliminate the current fragmentation amongst federal departments and would be a mechanism for coordinated partnership between government departments, business and the Canadian public.

To read the full letter, cybersecurity-consultation-letter_cacn

cybersecurity-cacn