Scammer. Fraudster. Con-Artist. Swindler. Chiseller. No matter what you call them, these people are involved in fraudulent schemes or operations to take your money.
These predators target anyone and in particular try to take advantage of the fact students who are on their own for the first time and, particularly, new international students who are less likely to understand how Canadian business and government agencies work, including how they normally contact people.
While Canada’s Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) statistics show that online scams rose during the pandemic, Canada is a relatively safe country and your chances of being the victim of a scam is low. Still, you can reduce your chances of being a victim by staying on top of the latest frauds. See below for some of the most common scams and how to recognize and avoid them:
Employment scams
Scammers prey on international students who are looking for a part-time job, and on graduates who look for a full-time job after they complete their program at a Canadian university or college. Fake job offers can include phishing links or forms requiring detailed personal information. Genuine employers will only ask you for your contact details and references – never for personal information or money.
IT’S PROBABLY A SCAM IF:
- They send you a job offer asking for an upfront deposit before the supposed start date.
- You are contacted by someone who claims to be from a recruitment agency and promises you guaranteed employment in exchange for a fee. (In Canada, recruitment agencies are paid by the employer.)
- You have not applied for or been interviewed for the job you are being offered.
- The job includes a high salary, the requirements are vague and anyone could be a good candidate (example: over age 18, no experience required, etc.)
Accommodation (rental) scams
If you’re planning to live off-campus while studying in Canada, beware of housing scams. The fraudulent landlord or agent will ask for money upfront before you meet or see the property. They may ask you to pay for six months in advance – a practice which is illegal in Canada. Scammers often use property images from other online listings and then post fake advertisements on websites like Facebook, Kijiji, and Craigslist offering rental properties that don’t exist. Some fraudsters rent a property on a short-term basis, then pose as they owner and rent it out to an international student, taking a deposit and then disappearing. While renting a property, be sure to always meet the landlord, inspect the house, and sign a lease agreement before paying a deposit.
IT’S PROBABLY A SCAM IF:
- If a listing looks too good to be true, it’s probably a scam.
- An attractive rental property is listed at a price that’s lower than average market pricing.
- You are asked for a deposit even before you meet the “landlord” or visit the property.
- The scammer tries to force you to pay a deposit immediately by claiming that they have other interested parties.
Debit or credit card fraud
A scammer can steal your debit or credit card or card information by accessing your physical card, stealing your bank statements, hacking into databases that have your financial information, or by tricking you into sharing your credit card information through a fake payment website. The scammer then uses your card to make purchases or withdraw funds from your account. Never leave your debit or credit card unattended, and never share your card number or PIN with anyone. Destroy and properly dispose of all paper statements from your bank. While making purchases online, always verify the authenticity of the website before entering your credit card details.
IT’S PROBABLY A SCAM IF:
- Someone claims to be from your home country’s embassy or consulate, or from the police or Interpol, claiming your credit cards were used in a criminal activity.
- They ask for your personal information and/or try to convince you to send them money, not to tell family and friends, and/or go into hiding.
Ghostwriting scams
International students enrolled in Canadian universities are particularly susceptible to scams in which a third party (ghostwriter) offers to write assignments or essays for a fee. Once the student makes the payment, the scammer will disappear without completing the assignment, or will send the student a plagiarized (illegally copied) document. In Canada, getting assistance, plagiarism, or getting another person to complete work you are supposed to do is considered cheating. Cheating is taken extremely seriously, and has severe penalties. You could receive a failing grade or even be expelled. No matter how overwhelmed you feel by classwork and assignments, don’t be tempted to outsource your academic work.
IT’S PROBABLY A SCAM IF:
- Ghostwriting scams often promise unrealistically short delivery times or guarantee a good grade.
- The fake landlord asks for a deposit payment through wire transfer, gift cards, or PayPal or makes excuses to avoid showing you the property before you give them money.
Phishing or email scams
In phishing and email scams, fraudsters try to access passwords, credit card information, bank account details, or social insurance numbers. Phishing emails or text messages often ask you to click on links, share personal information, or download files, or have attached files that contain viruses or software that can gather your information without your knowledge or consent. Always check the email address to see if the domain matches that of the organization the email is supposedly from. If you’re unsure, call the organization to verify it is from them.
IT’S PROBABLY A SCAM IF:
- The email claims you’re entitled to a tax refund, gift card, or prize, that you need to update your financial information for a subscription, or that there’s been suspicious activity on your account and you need to validate some information.
- When you click on the link, you’ll be prompted to share personal information.
- The message contains bad grammar, offers that are too good to be true, and senders you don’t recognize.
Visa scams
If you receive a phone call from someone claiming to be from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) or Canada Border Services (CBSA) saying that your student visa or immigration status is in jeopardy, it could be a scam. They’ll likely claim that something is wrong with your study permit documents and that you have to pay a fine to avoid being arrested or deported. Hang up, or ask them for their name. Wait ten minutes to make sure the call fully disconnects, then call the department’s official phone number to confirm the call is real. Report fraudulent calls to the Canadian Anti-fraud Centre.
IT’S PROBABLY A SCAM IF:
- You’ve been asked to pay a fine by transferring funds via an e-Transfer, money wire, or in the form of prepaid credit cards, gift cards, or Bitcoin.
- The call threatens you with deportation or arrest.
- The caller pressures you to share personal information, such as your passport number, Social Insurance Number, credit card details, or bank account information.
How to report scams
Police and government agencies suspect than only about five per cent of people report scams. When you report attempted or successful fraud, you are helping officials understand and warn others about the most recent scams. They also have a better chance of identify the fraudsters, and charging and convicting them. If you or someone you know has been the target of a scam or fraud:
- Visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website or call 1-888-495-8501.
- Contact the Ontario Provincial Police Fraud division as soon as possible so they can begin to investigate the scam.
- Contact your bank to put an alert on your credit report in cases where financial information has been shared, or a credit card or debit card has been lost or may have been used without your permission.
We hope this helps you better understand how you can protect yourself from scams, particularly those targeting international students. Scams are an unfortunate reality but you can greatly reduce your chances of being a victim by remaining cautious, protecting your personal information and being careful about who you hand over your money to.