How to report fraud or abuse
Scammers want to take your hard-earned money and give you false promises of coming to or staying in Canada. Our focus is on identifying those responsible for committing fraud, and not on punishing people affected by fraud.
Help protect yourself and others by reporting immigration fraud. How you report fraud will depend on the type of fraud and whether you’re in or outside Canada.
Reporting fraud if you’re in Canada
Find out what to do and who to contact in the following situations.
You’re an international student who is a victim of fraud
International students who have been issued a removal order and are victims of document fraud may be allowed to stay in Canada. You could be eligible for a temporary resident permit if you meet 3 conditions:
- You came to Canada with a genuine intention to study.
- You used fake documents without your knowledge.
- You have been issued a removal order.
Call the Client Support Centre to discuss your situation.
You should
- call the Client Support Centre to speak with one of our employees
- report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
You get a suspicious phone call, text message, or email
The suspicious call, text message or email is about:
Your visa application or immigration status
You should
- call the Client Support Centre
- report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre if the call, text message or email is fake
- report it to your local police or the Royal Canadian Mounted Police if you gave personal or financial information by mistake
Taxes
You should
- hang up, then confirm if the call was real by calling the Canada Revenue Agency at 1‑800-959-8281
- report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre if the call wasn’t real
- report it to your local police or the Royal Canadian Mounted Police if you gave personal or financial information by mistake
Other common scams (like fake emails, websites, computer viruses and prizes)
You should
- report the scam to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
- report it to your local police or the Royal Canadian Mounted Police if you gave personal or financial information by mistake
- learn how to protect yourself from common scams
You think your visa documents are fake
You should
- call the Client Support Centre to speak with one of our employees
- report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
You think someone is a possible victim of human trafficking
You should
- contact the human trafficking hotline at 1-833-900-1010, your local police, or dial 911
- learn more about protection and assistance for victims of human trafficking
Important: Do not take the law into your own hands or take part in any illegal activity.
You think someone has committed immigration fraud
Contact us to report
- suspicious activity at the border
- a marriage of convenience
- a person who has given false information on an immigration application
- a person wanted on an immigration warrant
You should
- call the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Border Watch Toll-Free Line at 1‑888-502-9060 (available Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET)
- report the immigration fraud online using the CBSA’s secure web form
You or someone you know is being abused
You should
- call 911 or your local police if it’s an emergency
- call the Client Support Centre
- know your rights, know how to identify abuse, neglect and forced marriage, and get help if you’re being abused
- find out more about help for foreign workers who are victims of abuse
Reporting fraud if you’re outside Canada
Find out who to contact in the following situations.
You think your visa documents may be fake
You should
- contact your nearest Canadian visa office
- report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
- contact your local police
You think someone is using fake documents to get into Canada
You should
- contact your nearest Canadian visa office
- email IRCC.CitizenshipFraudTips-Fraudedecitoyennete.IRCC@cic.gc.ca
Top questions about fraud and scams
- What happens if I owe IRCC money? Will you call to ask for unpaid fees?
- Will you ask me for personal information over the phone?
- Do you accept prepaid credit cards, Western Union or Money Gram to pay my fees?
- If I have not paid fees, will you have me arrested or deported?
- I received threats from someone who says they are from the immigration department. Is it a scam?
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