Scams involving immigration may cost you money instantly, result in severe immigration repercussions, or result in identity theft, all of which can have a long-term negative effect on your financial well-being.
Regrettably, a variety of circumstances contribute to immigrants becoming a common target of scammers. Numerous newcomers are fearful of the immigration procedure, uncertain of their eligibility for visas or green cards, and unfamiliar with the way the Canadian government operates. Additionally, many immigrants may not speak English as a first language or are unfamiliar with Canadian cultural standards.
Scammers prey on immigrants at every stage of the immigration process. The following are some of the most frequent scams done by immigration consultants and how to prevent them.
5 Scams Done by Immigration Consultants You Should Be Aware of
Is it better to hire an immigration lawyer or an immigration consultant?
Regardless of whether you use our services or those of another firm, immigration.ca always recommends choosing an immigration lawyer over an immigration consultant.
ICCRC or the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council is on the brink of disbandment due to a slew of proven self-governing issues and unlicensed rogue consultants, particularly from abroad, slipping through the cracks.
Candidates who think they are on the brink of submitting a successful application may be denied as a result of working with an unauthorized immigration counselor.
For the overwhelming majority of prospective immigrants, the process of immigration to Canada is tough. There are 14 distinct jurisdictions, each with a distinct role to play and regulations that change every week. It is usually preferable to employ a professional practicing lawyer rather than an immigration consultant.
Employers Charging For Job Offers:
A genuine job offer will never occur in the absence of an interview. In certain instances, fraudsters may promise a job offer in exchange for a price. This is against the law in several Canadian provinces.
Fraudsters are well aware that a job offer is a critical component of a successful Canadian immigration application. Often, a paid employment offer will never materialize, or the candidate’s case will be rejected if the authorities learn about it.
Also Read- How to identify fake Job Offers from Canada?
The Concealment of an Immigration Website:
It does not take much for a determined scammer to replicate or build a website that closely resembles the official IRCC portal.
Frequently, they would also run deceptive online advertisements designed to attract visitors to their website, promising quicker processing of immigration applications or ensuring transit to Canada.
The basic guideline here is to be skeptical of anything that seems to be too wonderful to be true. Processing timeframes are unrelated to anybody but IRCC case officers. And no one can guarantee that their application will be successful.
The Telephone Conversation:
As with the email scam, phone scammers would call and pretend to be from a specific Canadian immigration agency. Scammers have recently attempted to impersonate federal IRCC officials. Thus, they will dress up the discussion in all kinds of official-sounding jargon before making some sort of payment request.
A Phishing Email:
The most recent Ontario instance is an excellent illustration of this, one of the most commonly utilized fraud techniques.
Scammers send emails purporting to be from a certain immigration agency. In this instance, Ontario – and requesting payment to proceed with an application.
These group emails are often sent to random recipients. Which means that they may reach members of the public who have never required immigration services. As a result, the fraudsters are trying to snag one or two applicants who may believe the email is legitimate.
Previously, such emails were easily identifiable by their bad language or lack of sincerity in their tone. However, fraudsters are catching on to this and increasing the professionalism of their communications, so be cautious.
How to Avoid Scam Websites of Immigration Consultants?
- If you opt to pay for a service, ensure that you understand what you will get before accepting or signing anything.
- Before you do anything, read the disclaimers, notices, and terms & conditions.
- Give up personal information only if you are certain the site is safe and you are working with a reputable company.
- Be suspicious of websites promoted in unsolicited emails from strangers.
- Ascertain that your browser is current. Browser filters may assist in identifying fraudulent websites.
- Before taking any action, contact the website’s owner by telephone or email.
- Conduct a Web search to see if anybody has reported any issues with that website.
By exercising caution and using common sense, you may avoid unscrupulous notaries and other immigration frauds. This will assist in ensuring that your immigration procedure goes smoothly. Thus, you pay no more than is needed! Also, you successfully get the green card or other immigration benefits for which you are legally entitled.
What if you get cheated? OR have your come across any fraudulent Immigration Advisor?–
If yes, don’t stay silent. Help other immigration aspirants stay protected and share your experience in comments below