International students in Canada are reporting that they have been targets of a re-emerging telephone scam whereby individuals claiming to be employees of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) are asking them to provide personal information and/or money, or else risk deportation.

The call consists of an individual posing as an Immigration Officer who informs the student that unless they go to a specified off-campus location immediately and transfer a sum of money, they will be deported or jailed within 24 hours. In more sophisticated versions of this scam, the caller will also pose as a representative of the student’s educational institution in order to confirm that the information provided by the previous scammer is accurate and impress upon the student the urgency to transfer funds.

The calls appear to be coming from Canadian telephone numbers, but it is believed that they are originating from overseas. IRCC and local, provincial and federal law enforcement agencies are aware of the scam and encourage anyone impacted to report this immediately to relevant authorities.

Any student who may be contacted should not provide the caller with any personal information or transfer any money to them.

Please note that IRCC will never contact students in person, online or via telephone to collect fees or fines to avoid deportation or jail. Furthermore, Carleton University will never contact students on behalf of IRCC to request an immediate transfers of funds.

IRCC is aware of the scam, and encourages individuals to consult with the resources section of their website for information on how to protect themselves from scams or report them.

In addition to these resources, please do not hesitate to contact the International Student Services Office (ISSO) with any questions or for additional guidance and support.

Friday, September 6, 2019 in Campus Life, CU Parents, Faculty, Finances, News

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