The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) plans to act quickly to deal with abuse of Canada’s do-not-call registry, according to Industry Minister, Tony Clement.

The do-not-call list was created to help consumers avoid calls from annoying telemarketers, but has actually worsened the problem for may participants, according to Consumers Association of Canada president Bruce Cran.

The list was made available to Canadian telemarketers for a minimal fee, but was apparently purchased by foreign scam artists who are now using it to call Canadian consumers. Canada’s do-not-call legislation provides for significant fines against those who break the rules, but it is very difficult to prosecute foreign callers. Nevertheless, the CRTC is vowing to do everything it can to deal with the problem.

“Upon learning that the list could be acquired and used illegally, I spoke to the chair of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, who has assured me it is taking these complaints very seriously,” Clement said in a statement. “It is the intent of the CRTC to aggressively pursue anyone abusing the use of the do-not-call list.”