As Canada continues to open up to immigrants, there is also a rise in immigration fraud. In December 2022, a Ghanaian man nearly became a victim of a social media employment scam where the scammers asked for money related to a health insurance fee. In another such case, an Iranian student lost nearly $11,000 to phone scammers. Here’s a look at how you can avoid immigration fraud or an immigration scam.
IRCC and the collection of fines/fees
With phone scams on the rise, it is important to note that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) don’t call anyone or contact them either online or in-person to collect fees or fines. IRCC notes that scammers will “often give a fake name and agent number to appear legitimate” but urges that these types of calls are always a scam.
IRCC’s official scam/fraud identification resources
IRCC also offers official government resources (FAQs and tip sheets) to help immigrants and those looking to immigrate to…
