How to report scams, fraud or abuse
Scammers want to take your hard-earned money and make false promises about helping you come to or stay in Canada. They may promise to get your immigration or citizenship application approved faster or fix problems with the application.
Our goal is to find and stop the people committing fraud, not punish the people who were misled.
Protect yourself and others by reporting immigration and citizenship scams and fraud.
How you report depends on
- the type of fraud
- whether you’re in or outside Canada.
On this page
- Reporting online, phone or text message scams
- Reporting fraud or abuse if you’re in Canada
- Reporting fraud if you’re outside Canada
Reporting online, phone or text message scams
Examples include
- videos of public figures, representatives and officials promoting false “immigration deals” that
- likely use artificial intelligence
- often spread through social media
- suspicious messages through social media (like instant or direct messages)
- fake emails and websites
- questionable phone calls and text messages
- computer viruses
- fraudulent prizes
To report these scams
- contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC)
- if you gave your personal or financial information by mistake, contact
- your local police or
- the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
Report scams about your status or taxes (in Canada only)
In addition to the CAFC, your local police or the RCMP, you can also contact
- our Client Support Centre if it’s about your visa application or immigration status
- Select “Report fraud or abuse” in the drop-down menu.
- the Canada Revenue Agency if it’s about Canadian taxes
Learn how to protect yourself from common scams.
Reporting fraud or abuse if you’re in Canada
Find out what to do and who to contact in the following situations.
You think someone has committed immigration fraud
Report immigration fraud to the Border Watch Line of the Canada Border Services Agency.
Examples of immigration fraud include the following:
- 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 think someone has committed citizenship fraud
If you think someone has lied or cheated to get Canadian citizenship, you should take these steps:
- Contact us by either
- emailing IRCC's Citizenship Fraud Tips mailbox, or
- calling the Client Support Centre
- Select “Report fraud or abuse” in the drop-down menu.
- Report the fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
You suspect a representative has committed fraud or given false information about an application
Your next steps depend on whether you have an application with us.
If you have an application with us
You should take these steps:
- Report the representative to us.
- Provide as much details as possible in the “Tell us about your request” section.
- Include relevant documents to support your claim.
- Report the situation to the Border Watch Line of the Canada Border Services Agency.
- Submit a complaint to the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (if your representative is a citizenship or immigration consultant).
- Submit a complaint to the provincial or territorial law society your representative belongs to (if your representative is a lawyer or paralegal).
If you do not have an application with us
You should take these steps:
- Report the situation to the Border Watch Line of the Canada Border Services Agency.
- Submit a complaint to the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (if the representative is a citizenship or immigration consultant).
- Submit a complaint to the provincial or territorial law society the representative belongs to (if the representative is a lawyer or paralegal).
You or someone you know is being abused
You should take these steps:
- Call 911 or your local police if it’s an emergency.
- Contact the Client Support Centre.
- Select “Report fraud or abuse” in the drop-down menu.
- Depending on your situation:
- get help and resources if you’re a spouse or partner being abused, including learning about
- your rights
- how to identify abuse, neglect and forced marriage
- get help for foreign workers who are victims of abuse
- get help and resources if you’re a spouse or partner being abused, including learning about
You think your visa documents are fake
You should take these steps:
- Contact the Client Support Centre.
- Select “Report fraud or abuse” in the drop-down menu.
- Report the fake documents to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
You’re an international student who is a victim of fraud
If you’re an international student and a victim of document fraud, you 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 unknowingly used fake documents.
- You have been issued a removal order.
You should take these steps:
- Contact the Client Support Centre
- Select “Report fraud or abuse” in the drop-down menu.
- Report the fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
You think someone is a victim of human trafficking
You should take these steps:
- You can
- call the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-833-900-1010
- contact your local police, or
- dial 911
- Learn more about protection and assistance for victims of human trafficking.
Do not take the law into your own hands or take part in any illegal activity.
Reporting fraud if you’re outside Canada
Find out what to do and who to contact in the following situations.
You want to report a fake document
This can be because
- you have a fake visa or immigration document
- you think someone is using a fake document to enter Canada
You should take these steps:
- Report the situation to the Border Watch Line of the Canada Border Services Agency.
- Report the fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
- Contact your local police.
You suspect a representative has committed fraud or given false information about an application
Your next steps depend on whether you have an application with us.
If you have an application with us
You should take these steps:
- Report the representative to us.
- Provide as much details as possible in the “Tell us about your request” section.
- Include relevant documents to support your claim.
- Report the situation to the Border Watch Line of the Canada Border Services Agency.
- Submit a complaint to the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (if your representative is a citizenship or immigration consultant).
- Submit a complaint to the provincial or territorial law society your representative belongs to (if your representative is a lawyer or paralegal).
If you do not have an application with us
You should take these steps:
- Report the situation to the Border Watch Line of the Canada Border Services Agency.
- Submit a complaint to the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (if the representative is a citizenship or immigration consultant).
- Submit a complaint to the provincial or territorial law society the representative belongs to (if the representative is a lawyer or paralegal).
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?