IRCC warns applicants and newcomers against fake officials, guaranteed jobs and visa promises
Immigration applicants in Punjab are among those being targeted by increasingly sophisticated Canada immigration scams in which fraudsters use artificial intelligence to impersonate government officials and make false promises about jobs, visas and permanent residence.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued a warning to applicants and newcomers after complaints that people in Punjab were allegedly duped by individuals posing as immigration officials and demanding money in return for guaranteed employment or other immigration benefits.
IRCC said scammers are using AI-generated videos, voices and other realistic content to make fraudulent communications appear to come from Canadian government representatives. Such material can be circulated through social media, emails, websites and phone calls.
The department said common scams also include phishing messages, fake immigration websites, computer virus schemes, fraudulent prize offers and tax-related fraud. Newcomers can be particularly vulnerable because they may be unfamiliar with Canadian government procedures and legitimate payment systems.
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IRCC stressed that no consultant, agent or other representative can guarantee a job, visa, permanent residence or any other immigration outcome
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Only authorised immigration officers can make decisions on visa applications
Applicants have also been warned that Canadian immigration officials will not ask them to deposit money into personal bank accounts or transfer funds through private money-transfer services. Officials will not threaten arrest or deportation over unpaid fees or offer special deals in exchange for money or personal information.
IRCC said its employees do not use free email services such as Gmail, Hotmail or Yahoo to contact applicants. The Canadian government advises people to verify immigration information through official IRCC channels and report suspected fraud.
The warning comes as AI makes it increasingly difficult for applicants to distinguish genuine government communication from convincing fake content.
