How to "spot, stop, report" immigration fraud
Lucmane Vieux ·
Currently an investigation is underway concerning more than 95,000 cases of fraud, rejecting more than 95,000 applications due to false declarations.
On the occasion of this Immigration Fraud Prevention Month, the Government of Canada is calling on everyone to ensure they "spot, stop and report" fraudsters. With evolving technologies, the Minister of Immigration observes that "fraudsters are finding new ways to exploit people who want to come to Canada."
"March is Fraud Prevention Month, a time to highlight the importance of protecting people and preserving the integrity of Canada's immigration system," she says in a statement.
Several signs of fraud
• Pressure to act quickly, requests for large amounts of cash and guaranteed results. No one can promise a visa or faster processing.
• Stop before acting. Check information on canada.ca or IRCC's official channels, and confirm that your immigration representative is properly authorized.
• Report fraud. Visit IRCC's website, contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and share the information with your family and friends.
Among measures taken in 2025.
The government states it has introduced new immigration measures through Bill C-12 to strengthen border security and prevent misuse of immigration and asylum processes.
Currently an investigation is underway concerning more than 95,000 fraud cases, refusing more than 95,000 applications due to misrepresentation. Thousands of inauthentic visitors are banned from entering Canada each month for periods of up to 5 years.
Ottawa is also taking to social media as part of a campaign aimed at helping to spot visa scams and understand the consequences of fraud, thereby reaching audiences in more than 30 countries.
The tightening of the visitor visa verification process and the tools used for this purpose has contributed to a 56% drop in asylum claims filed by visitor visa holders.
The government has implemented new rules to penalize paid representatives who break the law, including monetary sanctions of up to $1.5 million for making false representations about themselves or their clients.
The College participates
"We are also increasing the number of fraud prevention messages as Canada prepares to co-host the FIFA World Cup and welcome tens of thousands of visitors," indicates the Immigration department.
The College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (College) is also participating in the anti-fraud campaign which runs for eight weeks and in multiple languages.
"Immigration fraud can be difficult to detect" is the theme of the promotion. "Our message is simple: if you choose to use an immigration consultant, check the College's Public Register to ensure they hold a College license," stated Kate Lamb, President and Interim Chief Executive Officer.
"This is one of the most effective ways to protect against immigration fraud, which can have disastrous repercussions for potential newcomers hoping to settle in Canada."
The College is the official regulatory body for Canadian immigration and citizenship consultants worldwide.