Canada lists 7 things immigration officers will never demand from immigrants

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Canada government has warned newcomers and immigrants about common scams involving people pretending to be immigration officials and demanding money or personal information.

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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said newcomers should learn how to identify fraudulent calls, emails and messages, particularly those involving threats of deportation or demands for immediate payment.

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According to the government, there are seven things IRCC employees will never demand from immigrants.

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1. Deposit money into a personal bank account

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IRCC employees will never ask an immigrant to deposit immigration fees or other payments into a personal bank account.

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Newcomers should be suspicious of anyone claiming to represent the Canadian government who provides a personal bank account for payment.

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2. Make an urgent payment

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Immigration officials will never rush people into paying fees immediately.

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Scammers may create a sense of urgency by claiming that an application will be rejected or an immigration status will be affected unless payment is made immediately.

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IRCC advises newcomers to verify such claims through official government channels before making any payment.

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3. Pay through gift cards or money transfer services

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IRCC employees will never ask people to pay immigration fees using prepaid credit cards, gift cards, Western Union, MoneyGram or similar services.

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Government processing fees can be paid through the official payment channels provided by IRCC.

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4. Threaten arrest or deportation over unpaid fees

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Scammers may pose as immigration officials and threaten victims with arrest, deportation or police action if they do not immediately pay money.

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IRCC says its employees will not threaten to arrest or deport people, or send police to arrest them or harm their families, over unpaid fees.

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The government specifically warns that threats of deportation over outstanding fees are a scam.

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5. Offer special immigration deals

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Immigration officials will never offer special deals to people seeking to immigrate to Canada.

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Newcomers should be cautious of anyone claiming they can provide a special immigration arrangement or guarantee a favourable outcome.

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The Canadian government also warns that no one can guarantee a job, visa or permanent residence in Canada.

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6. Promise special treatment for extra payment

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IRCC employees will not promise that an immigration application will be approved or receive special attention because an applicant sends additional money or information.

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Anyone demanding extra payment in exchange for faster processing or guaranteed approval should therefore be treated with caution.

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7. Contact applicants through free email or social media

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IRCC employees will not use free email services such as Gmail, Hotmail or Yahoo Mail, or social media platforms, to contact people about immigration matters.

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The government also warns that scammers can manipulate caller ID, meaning a phone number that appears to belong to a government agency may not actually be genuine.

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Newcomers should therefore verify unexpected calls and messages through official government channels.

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Canada warns newcomers about other scams

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The government also highlighted other fraud schemes targeting newcomers, including phishing emails and text messages, fake computer virus alerts, fraudulent prizes and contests, and tax scams.

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In phishing scams, victims may receive messages containing links to websites designed to steal banking information, passwords or other personal details.

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Canada advises people not to click suspicious links or provide personal information if they are unsure who sent the message.

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Newcomers should also be wary of messages claiming they have won a prize in a contest they never entered.

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