Fraud Alert: False Documents From The Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism

Key Takeaways

• The Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism has seen an increased amount of fraud relating to the following documents:
  • Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) nomination certificates.
  • Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) endorsement certificates.
  • Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP) endorsement certificates.
  • Letters of support for work permits from the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism or the Department of Immigration, Population Growth, and Skills.
• To stay safe, you should never share your password or login information (even with consultants or recruiters) and you should only rely on documents provided through formal communication channels.
• Always verify that communications and documents are authentic and check that your immigration consultant or representative is registered.

Tips To Avoid The Risk Of Immigration Fraud

Staying vigilant against immigration fraud is crucial for protecting your personal information and ensuring a legitimate immigration process. 

Here are some tips to help you identify genuine documents and safeguard yourself from fraudulent activity:

Identifying Genuine Documents

1. Secure Communication: The Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism emails NLPNP nomination and AIP endorsement certificates as password-protected PDFs. Always ensure that any communication from the office follows this protocol.
2. Do Not Share Your Personal Account Login Details: Create your own profile under the Immigration Accelerator using your personal email and password. Do not share your login details with anyone, including immigration consultants, recruiters, or other third parties. If a third party has created an Immigration Accelerator account in your name, obtain your login details from them and verify all documents yourself. You should also consider changing the password so the third party can no longer access your account. 
3. Updating Contact Information: If you need to change or update the email address associated with your Immigration Accelerator account, contact the office at [email protected] or [email protected].
4. Do Not Pay Any Fees: All programs offered by the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism are free. The office does not request any payments, including Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) fees such as the Right of Permanent Residence Fee. Certificates and letters from the office are issued at no cost.
5. Access Support: The office provides free navigation services for individuals considering applying to the NLPNP or AIP. To access this support, email [email protected] to be connected to a Navigator.

You can read the alert from Newfoundland and Labrador here. 

Protecting Yourself from Fraudulent Representatives

Using a third-party representative does not speed up your application, draw special attention to it, or guarantee its approval. To protect yourself from fraudulent representatives, consider the following:

• Check that your immigration consultant is registered.
• Read the Canadian government’s important information about immigration consultants. 
• Learn more about common immigration scams and fraud from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. 
• Read our tips for avoiding immigration scams in Canada. 

Stay Informed and Vigilant

Staying informed and vigilant is your best defense against immigration fraud. It’s important to take steps to understand the process and be alert to red flags, including any emails that ask you to act urgently.

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