When an IRCC Document Doesn’t Feel Right: Spotting Immigration Scams Early

There are multiple immigration scams out there that take advantage of people’s desire, and sometimes desperation, to move to Canada. They very often come from ghost consultants (unlicensed, unqualified people who pose as immigration lawyers or consultants).  

They ask you to send a large sum of money to cover application fees and then completely vanish. But first, they try to win your trust through official looking (but fraudulent) paperwork and promise guaranteed success with your application. 

Fake Decision Letter Red Flags 

For example, a recent post on LinkedIn by Ankita Goyal, RCIC-IRB points out several red flags on a fake decision letter from IRCC.  

 She says that scammers often hide behind complex legal references and overly elaborate language. This can look like: 

• Odd phrasing and tone 
• Decision language that doesn’t follow normal IRCC communication style 
• Legal references used in a way that feels copy-pasted rather than procedural 
• Communication is not available to download from inside the applicant’s official. 
• Statements within the letter which don’t make sense when taken together. 

This letter has all the red flags listed above. You should take special note of the errors in grammar or spelling. For example, “I have determined that your application do meet. The correct spelling here would be “does.” 

It’s also suspicious that while the “agent’ is satisfied that the applicant will leave Canada at the end of their stay, they are still asking for a medical examination. While it is not unheard of for IRCC to request a medical exam, it is the context in which it is requested which is questionable. 

 Not every immigration scam starts with a request for payment. In situations like this, the communication is designed to keep the person optimistic about an application that was likely never submitted. It’s a tactic used to maintain trust and prolong the interaction, setting the stage for future financial demands, if money hasn’t already changed hands. 

International Student Scams 

Immigration scams can happen in any type of immigration application. 

Fraud is especially rampant among international student applications. Ghost consultants take advantage of an applicant’s lack of knowledge about how Canadian post-secondary schools communicate and the fees they charge. Fake admission letters to Canadian universities have been an especially big problem. 

It got so bad that in 2023 and 2024 overwhelming international student fraud led to IRCC overhauling the application process for a study permit. In early 2024, the Letter of Acceptance verification system was adopted and by the end of the year, IRCC identified more than 10,000 potentially fraudulent letters of acceptance. 

So, it never hurts to follow up with the admissions office at the Canadian institution to make sure your acceptance is genuine. Your consultant should never advise you not to contact the school directly. 

How to Avoid Getting Scammed 

The main thing is to always trust your gut. If you are using a consultant or lawyer to help you with your paperwork, check to see if they are authorised by looking to see if they are registered with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants. If you are using a Canadian immigration lawyer, check if they are members of the Canadian provincial or territorial law society.  

Even when you’re working with an authorized representative, it’s still wise to stay involved in your own application. A legitimate, ethical professional will welcome your questions and be happy to walk you through the details of any communication you receive. If someone avoids your questions or discourages you from reviewing your own paperwork, that’s a red flag. 

Remember that IRCC or other Canadian visa offices will never ask you to deposit money into an individual’s personal bank accounts or to transfer money through a specific private money transfer company.  

Also, per IRCC, processing fees are the same at all Canadian visa offices around the world, just adjusted for local currency. If your representative is asking for a much higher amount for processing fees, ask yourself why. 

Areas of improvement for IRCC 

Protecting yourself from fraud in the first place is your best line of defense from ghost consultants and other scams. IRCC doesn’t currently have a reliable or enforceable course of action for victims of fraud, or the people who commit it.  

A lot of this has to do with jurisdiction in other countries but Rebecca Major notes that one of the biggest failures is few validation options for those outside Canada. IRCC knows that immigration fraud happens worldwide and they may not have jurisdiction to act, but they can at least offer some kind or verification system. 

If you think you are a victim of immigration scam, and are in Canada, you can contact the IRCC client support centre by phone and the Canadian Anti- Fraud Centre. 

Those outside Canada, have fewer viable options. Their options include: 

• Contacting their nearest Canadian visa office (although contact information is often not easy to find),  
• Contacting the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and 
• Reporting the incident to their local police.  

 None of these offer immediate access to help verify if a document is authentic.  

If you are abroad and have access to your IRCC portal, you can check the status of your application and verify it has been submitted. Although this only works if the application is connected to your portal. 

You may also submit a webform. However, if you don’t have your application number, you may not get a helpful response. Either way, there are certainly ways IRCC can make it easier for official documentation to be verified. 

Immigration scams are constantly evolving, becoming more sophisticated and harder to detect. Staying informed about the latest tactics is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself and avoid becoming a victim. 

Keep checking back and join the Moving2Canada community for tips and updates on how to avoid Canadian immigration scams.