How To Report Someone To Immigration Canada: We hear a lot of stories about visa fraud, which can be anything from fake marriages to trafficking people. People all over Canada are likely to be affected by the fraud’s nasty effects. Fraud comes in many forms, so it’s important to know about them and be ready to report them before you fall for it.
Types of Fraud in Immigration
Immigration Extortion
Someone calling you an Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) official says that you have not completed or sent in certain immigration papers. They will not let you pay the fees until you give them your personal information.
If you don’t, they will deport you, take away your status, suspend your account, arrest you, attack you, or even kidnap you. Often, scammers will use a fake name and contact number. You should always remember that the IRCC will never call or visit you to ask for money to pay fees or fines.
Immigration Scams on the Phone, Internet, and Mail
Fraudsters offer immigration services at ridiculously low prices, promise protected jobs and employment contracts, say they can process your application faster, or ask you to pay to get immigration forms and guidelines.
Scammers give you these promises to steal your cash and/or personal information. When you are asked to pay application entry fees or deposits before the application process has even begun, be very careful about transferring any fees.
Immigration Representatives (IRs)
You should be careful to make sure that any paid agent you hire to help you with your immigration or citizenship application is licensed to do so and not a con artist. You should make sure that the person representing you is allowed to do so.
Lawyers and notaries must be members of the Chambre des notaires du Québec or the Canadian Provincial and Territorial Law Society.
Immigration and citizenship experts must be members of the Immigration Experts of Canada Regulatory Council. Before you hire a representative, you should always make sure that they are a qualified lawyer or immigration consultant and that they are a member in good standing.
Cross-Border Fraud
This kind of scam can be seen at the Canadian borders and needs to be reported. This can include marriages for ease, giving false or misleading information, being wanted on an immigration warrant, or other signs of questionable activities at the border.
Fraud in Citizenship
People here are committing theft if they hide information about their case or say they lived in Canada to get citizenship.
Fraud with Documents
It is a very serious crime to give IRCC false information or papers that have been changed or added to. This is also known as misrepresentation. Misrepresentation also includes lying on your application or during an interview with IRCC.
Not only could the application be turned down, but the person could also be banned from travelling to Canada for 5 years, be charged with a crime, be sent home from Canada, or have their permanent residence or Canadian citizenship status suspended.
How to Report a Fraud or Scam in Immigration?
Immigration fraud is a very bad crime that can cost the victim a lot of money and hurt them emotionally. If you want to move to Canada and get a job offer, we advise you to be careful when dealing with agents from those companies so you don’t fall for an immigration scam.
Some fake immigration advisers take advantage of hopeful immigrants who aren’t guilty by sending fake emails that look like they come from the Canadian immigration authorities. They make fake immigration websites that look like the IRCC gateway and use fake ads to get people to visit those websites.
A lot of people who commit visa fraud use the chance to live and work in Canada to get skilled workers interested. They are so good at tricking people that they can gain the trust of smart professionals and then get them to pay them a lot of money to help them with the visa process.
If you think or know that visa fraud is happening, you should report it right away. The information below shows you how to write a visa scam or fraud. Canada has many ways to find and stop people from breaking immigration laws.
- The following crimes are examples of immigration fraud:
- Forging a paper to support a visa application
- Offering false information to potential immigrants to support their visa application.
- Hiding any information about the visa application
- A convenience marriage
- Asking you to begin or pay for the process even if you are not qualified
You can call the Border Service Agency (CBSA) right away to report the following things that seem fishy:
- Suspicious border activity
- A convenience marriage
- An individual who provided fraudulent information on any type of immigration application or
- An individual wanted on an immigration warrant
In addition to the above, foreigners who want to move to Canada, either permanently or temporarily, must check the past of immigration consultants before giving them their Canada immigration profiles. To make sure the counsellor is real, they can ask the following questions.
If the immigration consultant is qualified to handle your case with Canadian immigration officials,
- Make sure their website looks real, find out where their office is, and get in touch with them through real channels.
- What does the visa expert do for a living? How long have they been working in the visa business?
- What kind of real reviews are there on their website? Are there any video comments or Google reviews?
- Do they promise you a job in Canada to get you to come?
If you think someone is trying to scam you, all you have to do is be careful and smart enough to spot the warning signs and report them before it’s too late.
Report if you are not in Canada
If you are outside of Canada and want to report immigration fraud, you should find the nearest Canadian consulate or embassy and make your report there.
For some kinds of fraud, you might want to get in touch with the embassy or consulate of the country where the fraud is running. If someone steals your name or financial information, you might also want to call the police in your area.
Fraud in citizenship
For calls in Canada, call the IRCC Call Centre at 1-888-242-2100 to report a citizenship scam. Thank you for your message. Someone from the Client Support Centre will answer your call Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Calling from outside of Canada. You can get in touch with the Canadian visa office that is closest to you. Citizenship-fraud-tips@cic.gc.ca is another email address that could be used to send tips.
Email, phone, and mail scams
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre is where you can report scams involving the Royal Canadian Mounted Police over the phone, online, or in the mail. The Centre can be reached by phone at 1-888-495-8501 from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., eastern time, Monday through Friday. You can also use the theft Reporting System, which is run by the Centre and can be found online, to report theft.
Human trafficking
If you know someone who might be a victim of human trafficking and want to report it, call your local cops. To report it without giving your name, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
If you or someone you know has been a victim of immigration fraud, stay cool and get as much information as you can before filing a report. You should tell your banks about what happened if there was a money move involved.
Remember to stay safe—scammers may try to trick fraud victims more than once by saying they can get their money back. Tell the institutions where you made your report about any new information. Talk about your time with people.
Summary:
- Identify Scam Signs
- Verify Consultant’s Credentials
- Report Suspicious Activity
- Protect Personal Information
- Stay Informed and Cautious
FAQS about Immigration Canada
1. What should I do if I suspect I’m a victim of an immigration scam in Canada?
If you suspect that you are a victim of an immigration scam, you should gather as much information as possible, including names, contact details, and any correspondence. Contact the appropriate authorities or agencies to report the scam, such as the Border Service Agency (CBSA) or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
2. What are some common signs of immigration scams in Canada?
Common signs of immigration scams include promises of expedited processing, requests for upfront payments before any application process begins, suspicious activities at the border, and individuals providing false or misleading information on immigration applications.
3. How can I verify the legitimacy of an immigration consultant in Canada?
Before hiring an immigration consultant, you should verify their qualifications, check their website for authenticity, contact them through official channels, inquire about their experience, and look for genuine reviews or testimonials. Avoid consultants who promise job offers in Canada to entice you.
4. What should I do if I’m outside of Canada and want to report immigration fraud?
If you’re outside of Canada and wish to report immigration fraud, contact the nearest Canadian consulate or embassy. You may also want to get in touch with the embassy or consulate of the country where the fraud is taking place. Additionally, consider reporting the crime to the local police in your area if your personal information or finances are compromised.
5. How can I report fraud related to citizenship in Canada?
To report fraud related to Canadian citizenship, you can call the IRCC Call Centre at 1-888-242-2100 if you are in Canada. If you are calling from outside of Canada, contact the Canadian visa office nearest to you. You can also send tips to citizenship-fraud-tips@cic.gc.ca.
6. How can I report email, phone, and mail scams related to immigration fraud?
To report email, phone, and mail scams related to immigration fraud, you can contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 during their operating hours. They also provide an online reporting system for theft-related scams.
7. How can I report human trafficking in Canada?
If you suspect human trafficking and want to report it, contact your local law enforcement, such as the police. If you wish to report it anonymously, you can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
8. What should I do after reporting an immigration scam?
After reporting an immigration scam, you should stay vigilant and inform your financial institutions if there is a financial transaction involved. Scammers may attempt to defraud victims multiple times, so be cautious and keep reporting any new information to the relevant authorities.
9. How can I protect myself from immigration scams in Canada?
To protect yourself from immigration scams, be cautious when dealing with immigration consultants, verify their credentials, avoid making upfront payments, and verify the legitimacy of any promises made. Stay informed about common signs of scams and report any suspicious activity promptly.
10. Where can I find more information on immigration fraud prevention in Canada?
For additional information and resources on immigration fraud prevention in Canada, you can visit the official website of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) or contact them directly for guidance.
