Most common scams in Canada

The Big Four: Common Scams Targeting Expats

1. The Rental "Ghost" Listing

This is the most frequent trap for expats arriving in high-demand cities likeMontreal.

The Hook: A stunning condo at a "steal" of a price. The "landlord" claims to be out of the country (often for missionary work or a sudden business trip) and can’t show the place in person.

The Trap: They ask for a security deposit or "first month's rent" via wire transfer or crypto to "hold" the unit. Once the money is sent, the listing vanishes.

2. The "Ghost" Immigration Consultant

Scammers pose as "guaranteed" visa fixers or official IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) agents.

The Hook: They promise to fast-track your PR (Permanent Residency) or work permit for an extra fee.

The Trap: They use high-pressure tactics, claiming your status is "at risk" or that you’ve committed a clerical error that requires an immediate "fine" to avoid deportation.

3. The "Equipment" Employment Scam

Particularly targeting those looking for remote work upon arrival.

The Hook: You’re "hired" after a brief, text-only interview.

The Trap: They send you a fake cheque to buy "home office equipment" from a specific vendor. You deposit the cheque, pay the vendor (the scammer), and then the original cheque bounces, leaving you out thousands.

4. Government Impersonation (CRA/CBSA)

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) are the favorites here.

The Hook: A phone call or "interac e-transfer" text claiming you have an unpaid tax debt or a seized package at the border.

The Trap: They demand payment in gift cards (Apple, Amazon), Bitcoin, or prepaid credit cards

   The "No-Cash-Before-Keys" Rule: Never, under any circumstances, send a deposit for a rental you haven't physically walked through. If you're abroad, hire a reputable local "settlement agent" or use a licensed Realtor (their services are usually free for tenants).

Verify the "RCIC": If you use an immigration consultant, they must be registered with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants. Check their name on the public register.

SIN Privacy: Your Social Insurance Number is like your financial DNA. DO NOT give it to a landlord or put it on a job application before you are actually hired.

Reverse Image Search: Found a dream apartment on Marketplace or Kijiji? Right-click the photo and search Google Images. If that "Montreal loft" also appears in a listing for an apartment in Berlin, run.

The "Hang Up and Call Back" Strategy: If someone claims to be from your bank or the government, hang up. Find the official number on the back of your card or the .gc.ca website and call them yourself.

Note: Canada's official anti-fraud resource is the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. If you even suspect a scam, reporting it helps protect the next expat in line.

The scams Scooter mentioned are notorious and high profile. It happens less so for people in Canada, but the victims are predominantly people who live outside, like students. Students don't know any better and go through easy means instead of official channels.

Two scams going on in Canada currently are phone and text scams. Phone calls from 'duct cleaning' services posing as telemarketers, Mind you, they find out about your name and number from public channels where it is listed, so be very careful where you put your number and names. Even professionally used services like LinkedIn can be used for scammers to gain access to your information.

I always hang the phone when I hear several things: western name, but they have an Indian accent, there is a pause or break from when you receive the call and when they say Hello (their call is not direct to you, it is being rerouted so they cannot be tracked), if you live in an apartment or condo and get a 'duct' cleaning call, hang up the phone immediately, there is no relevance to you. And of course, the number itself. If it is not shown on your device (cancel immediately) or looks strange  or not a local number, you can do a search online. Some scammers may register a legal entity in Canada to get real phone numbers to appear, so take caution on the number itself.

Text scammers are worse because links that appear real can lead you down a horrible path. My father was once scammed from a text that appeared to be real - he owned money to a friend and thought it was his friend texting him. Link appeared to be a fake bank site that took his information so he would login on behalf of them to have a payment made for them. Banks now have safeguards for this process and will automatically bar or flag people from going through these channels. Unfortunately, scammers have found loopholes like posing as survey companies to get your information.

GTS, HST, PST and income tax 🤣