# Immigration scams targeting newcomers > Fake officials, guaranteed visas, fake job offers and tax schemes target people moving to Canada. The warning signs, what IRCC never does and how to report. - Category: Good to know - For: newcomers moving abroad to work, settle or join family - Country: Canada - Verified on: 2026-10-20 - Source: [IRCC — Fraud targeting newcomers](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/protect-fraud/newcomers.html) - Page: https://travelsorted.grihaam.online/resources/canada-immigration-scams-targeting-newcomers ## The short answer Scammers target people who are moving countries, because newcomers are dealing with unfamiliar systems, deadlines and money. IRCC's advice is simple: **no one can guarantee you a visa, a job or permanent residence**, and IRCC will never threaten you or rush you to pay. If a message is urgent, secret, threatening or asks for payment in an unusual way, stop and check using the official website, not the contact details in the message. ## Common scams - **People posing as government staff.** A caller or email says you have done something wrong, such as not filing paperwork, and that you must pay a fee or lose your status or be deported. IRCC says it will never threaten to deport you over outstanding fees. Caller ID can be faked, so a number that looks real is not proof. - **Fake or unauthorised representatives.** Someone promises a result, asks you to include false information, or is not licensed to give immigration advice. - **Guaranteed visas and fake job offers.** A "job offer" that needs a fee, or a "package" that guarantees a visa. - **Phishing emails and texts.** Messages that send you to a website asking for personal information, bank details or passwords. - **Computer virus scams.** A caller says your computer is infected and asks for access. - **Fake prizes and contests.** You are told you have won something you did not enter. - **Tax scams.** Someone promises to reduce your taxes or to get you benefits you are not eligible for. IRCC warns that benefits can only be claimed for periods after you arrived. - **Fake accommodation listings.** A cheap place, a landlord abroad and a request to pay before you can see it. ## What IRCC says its staff will never do IRCC employees will never: - ask you to deposit money into a personal bank account - rush you into paying fees right away - ask you to pay with prepaid cards, money transfer services, gift cards or similar - threaten to arrest or deport you, or send police, over unpaid fees - offer special deals to people who want to immigrate - promise your file will be approved if you send more money or information - use free email services or social media to contact you - ask for private information, except to verify what you already gave IRCC fees are the same all over the world, and IRCC accepts online payment through its website. ## If you are unsure 1. **Do not reply or click.** Do not give your unique client identifier (UCI) or file number. 2. **Go to the official website yourself** and check the fee, form or status. 3. **Check any representative** on IRCC's page for authorised representatives before you pay. 4. **Ask someone you trust,** or a settlement organisation. ## If you have been scammed 1. **Contact your bank at once** to try to stop the payment. 2. **Report it.** IRCC has a page on how to report fraud, and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre takes reports. You can also forward unwanted text messages to 7726 so your provider can block the number. 3. **Keep evidence,** such as messages, receipts and screenshots. 4. **Tell IRCC** if the scam involved your application. ## Checklist - [ ] Save the official IRCC site, not links from messages - [ ] Never give your UCI, passwords or banking PINs to callers - [ ] Pay IRCC fees only through IRCC's website - [ ] Check that any paid representative is authorised - [ ] Never sign a blank form or include false information - [ ] Verify a rental before you pay anything - [ ] Keep copies of every payment and message - [ ] Know where to report fraud ## Common mistakes - **Trusting caller ID.** It can be faked. - **Paying under pressure.** Real agencies do not demand immediate payment. - **Letting an agent hold your original documents.** Keep them yourself. - **Believing a guarantee.** No one can promise approval. - **Staying silent after being scammed.** Report it quickly. ## Things that change Scams change constantly. IRCC updates its advice, and reporting channels can change. ## Verify before you act Read IRCC's page on [fraud targeting newcomers](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/protect-fraud/newcomers.html), its [protect yourself from fraud](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/protect-fraud.html) and [report fraud](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/protect-fraud/report-fraud.html) pages, and the [Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre](https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm). To check a representative, see [authorised representatives](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigration-citizenship-representative/choose/authorized.html). --- StudentFlow gives general information from official sources. It is not legal or immigration advice and we are not a licensed immigration consultant or lawyer. For advice on your case, speak to a licensed professional. Confirm current rules, fees and thresholds on the official source above.