Navigating the Labyrinth of Deceptive Immigration Practices in Canada
In the ever-changing landscape of immigration, staying vigilant and informed is crucial. With an increasing number of scams reported, it's essential for both current immigrants to Canada and future Canadian immigration hopefuls to be aware of these potential threats and protect themselves.
Firstly, it's important to note that all Canadian citizenship and immigration consultants must be members of the College of Migration and Citizenship Professionals. Similarly, Ontario-based legal assistants are required to be a member of the Law Society of Ontario. To verify the legitimacy of Canadian immigration service providers, main Canadian registries and directories exist, such as the official public register maintained by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC).
Key measures to ensure you work with lawful professionals knowledgeable about Canadian immigration policies include:
- Check authorization status: Verify the consultant’s registration on the official CICC Public Register to confirm they are authorized. Avoid dealing with anyone not listed.
- Never pay upfront fees: Legitimate consultants typically do not demand payment before providing services. Be suspicious of upfront money requests or unsolicited offers.
- Use official government channels: Obtain immigration information and application guidelines directly from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) resources rather than third parties.
- Protect your personal information: Do not share sensitive documents or financial details with unverified agents to prevent identity theft or fraud.
- Keep records: Retain copies of all submitted forms and communications for reference and potential disputes.
If you suspect fraud or an unauthorized immigration representative, report them to the CICC or Canadian authorities immediately.
Unfortunately, scams are not uncommon, and they often take place over the phone, especially in Cantonese or Mandarin. For example, a Concordia University student from Iran, who moved to Canada this autumn, lost nearly $11,000 to phone fraudsters. Fraudsters often offer a fake name and representative number to appear reputable, but such calls are always a scam.
In recent news, CBC reported on 3 different alleged Canadian immigration scams from November 14 to December 8, 2022. One of these cases involved a migration specialist in Vancouver who was accused of scamming multiple victims, each reportedly losing "$5000 or more." The specialist is said to have misrepresented herself as an attorney and promised a path to permanent residence in Canada with a missing program.
It's essential to remember that IRCC will never call anyone to collect charges or fines to prevent consequences such as expulsion. If someone calls and threatens repercussions for not paying money or providing personal details, contact local police and/or report the incident.
IRCC offers online sources on various topics related to immigration scams and fraud, including telephone and internet scams, and what to do if one falls victim to a scam. A Ghanaian man in Edmonton reported an alleged social media job scam that asked for money related to a medical insurance cost.
In conclusion, being aware of these scams and not providing personal details or money to unknown callers claiming to be from IRCC is crucial. Always verify the legitimacy of Canadian immigration service providers, use official government channels, and keep records of all communications. By following these steps, you can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to immigration scams.
Last Updated: 15 January 2023.
- To protect oneself from immigration scams, it's advisable to seek information on education-and-self-development topics, such as understanding how to identify and avoid Canadian immigration scams, through reliable sources like the official public register maintained by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) and news outlets like CBC.
- In the context of staying vigilant and informed about potential immigration threats, being aware of the latest news on Canadian immigration scams, like the reported scams by CBC in November 2022, is crucial for both current immigrants to Canada and future Canadian immigration hopefuls.
