IRCC updated its public fraud-prevention guidance on October 7 after fielding complaints from applicants in Punjab and elsewhere who lost money to callers impersonating Canadian officials. The department warns that scammers are deploying AI-generated videos and voice cloning to sound like authentic officers, spoofing legitimate IRCC phone numbers and threatening deportation unless immediate fees are paid. Typical ruses include “urgent” calls claiming a paperwork error, phishing e-mails linking to copycat IRCC websites, remote-tech-support scams that hijack a victim’s computer, and text messages announcing fake lottery winnings. Newcomers are also being lured into tax-rebate schemes covering periods before they arrived in Canada—a move that can trigger fines or criminal charges. IRCC’s checklist of what real officers will never do is blunt: they will not demand payment through gift cards or Western Union, threaten arrest, ask for money in a personal bank account, or promise guaranteed approval. Fees are only paid through IRCC’s secure online portal. Victims are urged to hang up, report incidents to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and local police, and verify any contact by calling IRCC’s toll-free number directly. For global-mobility teams the alert is a training tool. Orientation packages for new assignees and international students should include the red-flag list and instructions for safeguarding Unique Client Identifiers and passports. Employers that reimburse immigration costs can add a policy clause stating that any payment demand outside official IRCC channels is fraudulent. Because the schemes now leverage deep-fake audio and video, even seasoned travellers may be fooled. The safest stance is to treat unsolicited immigration calls as suspicious until verified.
Source: IRCC.com
