Government of Canada warning refugee and immigrant communities to be wary of fraudulent calls claiming to originate from the IRB and demanding money

December 7, 2017 – Ottawa – The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) has been made aware of a scam targeting people with hearings before it – both past and present.

Victims have reported receiving telephone calls from persons claiming to be representatives of the IRB and are being told that they are under investigation and owe money. In some instances, these calls are made to appear to be coming from the IRB or the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

It is important to note that the IRB will never ask its clients for money. The Board is currently working with law enforcement agencies to identify the perpetrators and bring an end to this scam. In the meantime, we are seeking the help of the media and stakeholders in sharing this message to limit the impacts of this fraud.

The IRB takes the privacy of its clients very seriously and has strong safeguards in place to protect individuals’ private information. If anyone receives a call of this nature, do not comply with any of the demands and instead contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501. If you believe that you have fallen victim to fraud, call your local police as soon as possible.