🇨🇦 Fake Immigration Consultant (Ghost Consultant)
⚡ Quick Answer
Unregulated individuals pose as immigration consultants on social media, charging $2,000-$10,000 CAD for services they cannot legally provide. Only Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) or lawyers can legally provide immigration advice for a fee.
Scam alert for immigrants in Canada.
How this scam works
Unregulated individuals pose as immigration consultants on social media, charging $2,000-$10,000 CAD for services they cannot legally provide. Only Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) or lawyers can legally provide immigration advice for a fee.
Red flags
- Not listed on the CICC public register
- Operates only through social media DMs
- Promises guaranteed approval
- Cannot provide RCIC number
How to protect yourself
Verify your consultant at college-ic.ca/public-register before paying anything. Only pay to RCICs or Canadian lawyers.
What to do if targeted
- - Stop communication and do not send more money or documents
- - Save messages, receipts, contracts, profile links, and phone numbers
- - Contact your bank or payment provider if money was sent
- - Report through official fraud, police, or immigration channels
Prevention tips
- - Only pay government fees through official portals
- - Do not trust guaranteed visa approvals or secret appointment slots
- - Verify employer, school, agent, or landlord identities independently
- - Avoid personal-account transfers and pressure tactics
Emergency & Reporting Contacts
If there is immediate danger, contact local emergency services. If money was sent, contact your bank/payment provider and official fraud reporting channels.
Sources & References
- MigrantIQ scam alert record
Published 2026-05-06.
- Canada official reporting channels
Use official reporting channels if you were targeted or lost money.
Who is targeted
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Scam safety FAQ
Legitimate government fees are paid through official channels with receipts. Never wire cash to personal accounts for a “guaranteed” outcome.
Collect evidence (messages, contracts), then report through your destination country’s fraud or immigration reporting channels and warn your community.