Advertising & Fraud Update: Competition Bureau Announces Partnership with Citizenship and Immigration Canada

On March 22, 2012, the Competition Bureau announced that as part of its March Fraud Prevention Month efforts, it was joining forces with Citizenship and Immigration Canada (“CIC”) to “warn potential immigrants to be wary of websites claiming to be, or to be affiliated with, official Government of Canada websites.”

In making the announcement, the Bureau said:

“These websites, which sometimes use the Canada wordmark or CIC logo without permission to target individuals wishing to live in Canada, purport to offer special immigration deals or guaranteed high-paying jobs for a fee.  Unfortunately, these claims are fraudulent and the victim loses his or her money with no tangible results.

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. Under Canada’s immigration programs, all people are treated equally, whether they hire someone to represent them or not.”

As part of this new joint effort, the Bureau and CIC are offering tips to potential new citizens to avoid falling victim to fraud – see: here.

For CIC’s news release see:

Avoid Becoming a Victim of Immigration Fraud, Warn Citizenship and Immigration Canada and Competition Bureau

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