IRCC highlights immigration fraud prevention

What happened

March 2026 marked IRCC's annual Fraud Prevention Month, a public awareness campaign on spotting and reporting immigration fraud. IRCC reported investigating more than 95,000 suspected fraud cases in 2025 alone. The 2026 campaign expanded into more than 30 countries, partly due to Canada's role co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a period IRCC expects to bring increased scam activity targeting prospective visitors and applicants. Separately, new CICC regulations taking effect July 15, 2026 introduce a compensation mechanism for people harmed by a licensed consultant's dishonest conduct, alongside fines that can reach $1.5 million.

Why it matters

IRCC and the CICC use this month to highlight recurring patterns: unlicensed "ghost consultants" who prepare applications without authorization and often disappear after being paid; representatives who promise a specific result or demand large up-front fees; document fraud and misrepresentation, which can lead to multi-year bans; and phishing schemes impersonating IRCC. These risks tend to spike whenever an event draws extra global attention to Canada.

How to protect yourself

Only work with someone authorized to charge for immigration advice — a lawyer or paralegal in good standing, a CICC-licensed consultant, or a Quebec notary — and verify their license directly on the CICC's public register before paying anything. Be cautious of anyone who promises a specific outcome or claims special access to officials. Use your own IRCC secure account to track what has actually been submitted in your name, keep records of all payments and communications, and report anything that looks off to IRCC or the CICC.