Canada warns visa applicants against fake lottery

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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is warning people not to fall for scams that promise guaranteed immigration results or special selection programs.

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In a public advisory on its X handle on Saturday, the department stressed that no lottery, shortcut, or secret program exists that can guarantee anyone will be selected to immigrate to Canada.

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IRCC added that no individual or organisation can promise faster processing, priority treatment, or approval of an immigration application.

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“If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” the advisory states.

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IRCC urged applicants to protect themselves by taking three key steps:

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Obtain information about immigration programs only from official Government of Canada sources, be wary of anyone asking for money in exchange for a guaranteed result, and never make payments or provide personal information unless using an official IRCC platform.

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The department noted that scammers frequently target people through social media, emails, and phone calls with false claims of special programs or expedited services in return for fees.

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“Only authorized IRCC officers can decide immigration applications, and decisions are based solely on eligibility criteria.

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“Applicants are advised to verify all information on the official Canada.ca website and to report any suspicious offers,” IRCC added.

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