The federal immigration minister is urging Canadians and prospective newcomers to remain vigilant against immigration scams as part of Fraud Prevention Month.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Lena Metlege Diab said fraudsters are increasingly using evolving technologies to exploit people hoping to come to Canada.
In a statement Monday, Diab called on the public to take three steps to combat immigration fraud: spot warning signs, stop before acting, and report suspicious activity.
“Fraudsters are finding new ways to exploit people hoping to come to Canada,” Diab said. “Our message is clear: we will continue to take strong actions to detect, deter, and prevent immigration and citizenship fraud.”
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The minister said warning signs can include pressure to act quickly, requests for large cash payments, or promises of guaranteed visas or faster processing…
PROCUREMENT & EXPENDITURE (STOPPING KICKBACKS)
Procurement fraud usually involves inflated invoices or “fictitious” vendors.
- The Three-Way Match: Never pay an invoice unless you have matched the Purchase Order (PO), the Delivery Note (signed), and the Supplier Invoice.
- Vendor Master File Review: Review your vendor list annually. Look for suppliers with the same bank details or physical addresses as your employees.
- Dual Authorization: Implement a “Two-to-Sign” rule for all EFT payments above a certain threshold (e.g., R5,000).
- No “Cashing” of Checks: If you still use physical checks, strictly prohibit “Cash” as a payee and store blank checks in a dual-lock safe.