Scams and Fraud

Immigration-related Scams

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will never contact individuals by email, web, text message or telephone to ask for payment or personal information, including a Social Insurance Number (SIN), a passport number or personal banking details. 

To find out more about how to protect yourself from scams please check the CBSA webpage on Protecting yourself against fraud.  

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will not contact you in person, online or over the phone to collect fees or fines to avoid deportation or other consequences.

Scammers often give a fake name and agent number to appear legitimate. If you think the caller is a scammer: 

  • ask for the name and number of the agent, and 
  • call the Call Centre to confirm the agent’s identity. 

You can find more information about scams on the IRCC webpage about Scams targeting international students.  

If you received suspicious threats: 

  • call your local police if you lost money. 

Source: I received threats from someone who says the are from an immigration department. Is it a scam?

Some scams may resurface. To ensure you’re aware of these past incidents and can recognize them easier, please see below:  

If you’re unsure about whether a call/email is from IRCC or CBSA, contact OGS Canada and we will be able to help you verify.

 

Working with a Canadian Immigration Consultant – Fraud prevention

Ensure you protect yourself against immigration fraud by verifying that your Canadian immigration consultant is on the public register. See the CICC Fraud Prevention webpage for more information.

Find out if your representative is authorized.

 

Northeastern University Police Department (NUPD)

If you have been a victim of a scam of any kind please contact NUPD imminently: 617-373-2121!

*Note: This is not a toll-free phone number and you may incur long-distances charges

Additionally, the Northeastern University Police Department (NUPD) website outlines some common trends and tips for self-protection: Scam Prevention and Fraud Detection.   

General Scams/Fraud

If you are a victim or believe you were a potential target of a scam or fraud, your local police department should be able to help you with next steps.

The Government of Canada website also outlines some of the various types of scams and fraud taking place.

Employment Scams: Employment scammers target job seekers, which can include students looking for part-time jobs or even co-op opportunities. The Government of Canada website has information about jobs and employment scams that may happen and how you can spot them and protect yourself: Government of Canada – Jobs and employment scams

If you are a current student and you have received a job offer but you are unsure whether or not it is a scam, please contact your Co-op and career advisors on your campus for verification.

Safety

Immigration-related Safety

Immigration scams can vary, but there are certain signs that can alert you that it is a scam. See the IRCC website for details on how you can protect yourself against Internet, email, and telephone immigration scams.  

Similarly, newcomers to Canada, including international students, can be subject to fraud. The IRCC website on different types of fraud outlines how you can protect yourself from being a victim of fraud. 

General Safety 

General safety tips for walking and exercising: 

  • Avoid walking or jogging alone (especially at night) 
  • Use well-lit, familiar streets. (Never take poorly lit shortcuts through alleyways or wooded areas) 
  • Be aware of your surroundings 
  • Avoid using cell phones or listening to music with headphones. (Plan your route and walk confidently) 

If you have concerns or questions about safety protocols for your local city, please check the details on the Police Department website for: