Toronto: Thousands of international students, including many from India’s Muslim community, are falling victim to fake colleges and fraudulent agents in Canada. A joint investigation by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) uncovered more than 10,000 fake or suspicious letters of acceptance in 2024 alone. Many students have been deceived by agents promising easy visas and guaranteed admissions to “colleges” that do not exist or operate without proper accreditation.
In several cases, students arrived in Canada only to find that their listed college was a small office or an empty address. Others were told their programs were full and were redirected to unrelated institutions. According to The Times of India, about 20,000 Indian students who entered Canada in recent years were not enrolled in the institutions named on their permits.
Authorities in Ottawa have now strengthened document verification, requiring colleges to confirm letters of acceptance directly with IRCC. Multiple individuals in India and Canada have been charged for issuing fake admission letters.
Experts advise students to protect themselves by checking the IRCC’s official Designated Learning Institution (DLI) list and provincial registries before applying. Students should contact colleges directly through official channels, verify agent credentials with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC), and never rely solely on WhatsApp or Gmail for communication.
Canada remains a popular study destination, but officials warn that awareness and vigilance are key to avoiding scams that destroy careers and futures.
