DFA warns Pinoys vs online Canadian immigration scams

Source: abs-cbnnews.com

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) warned Filipinos against bogus websites offering "immigration deals" and claiming to be affiliated with official Canadian government websites.

In a statement, the DFA said it received a report from the Philippine Embassy in Canada that several websites have been targeting would-be immigrants in the country by offering immigration deals and high-paying jobs with fees. The websites even use the Citizenship and Immigration Canada logo.

"The DFA wishes to inform the public that the only people who may charge a fee to represent or advise people in connection with a Canadian immigration proceeding or application are authorized immigration consultants, lawyers, Quebec notaries, and paralegals regulated by a law society," it said.

"Under Canada's immigration program, everyone is treated equally, whether they hired someone to represent them or not," it added.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada and the Competition Bureau offers advice on how to avoid becoming a victim of immigration fraud:

• Be wary of websites advertised in unsolicited e-mails from strangers and do not give out personal information unless you know who you are dealing with.
• Before hiring an immigration representative, do your homework: ask for a referral from someone you trust, check their credentials, and discuss the services they will offer. For information on how to choose an immigration representative, you may visit CIC's website at www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/representative/index.asp.
• There is no "immigration consultant" website that is part of, or affiliated with, the Government of Canada. If you are suspicious about a website, do a web search to see if anyone has reported any problems with that site.
• Do not pay for offers of guaranteed entry to Canada or faster processing of your application. These claims are false.

The Canadian government has launched an advertising campaign to warn prospective immigrants, permanent residents and Canadian citizens about immigration fraud. A video on "marriage fraud" is also included on the website.

The website (www.immigration.gc.ca/antifraud) provides information on how to immigrate to Canada "the right way."

Canadian authorities encourage everyone to report immigration fraud by calling the Border Watch Tip Line at 1-888-502-9060.