Sample of fraudulent email

A common scam is for a person overseas to start an e-mail exchange with a Canadian. The person presents himself or herself as an attractive, interesting person in a foreign country. After a while, this “friend” says he or she wants to visit and asks for money to pay for the visa, airfare or other related costs. He or she may even send an electronic scan of what looks like a Canadian visa.

At the last minute, the person will say there are problems with their passport, or a family member is seriously sick, and they need even more money to deal with the situation. The person never arrives at the airport and is likely not booked on the flight. Victims can lose thousands of dollars.

Remember, processing fees are the same at all Canadian visa offices around the world. Fees in local currency are based on official exchange rates and correspond to the amount in Canadian dollars.

Note: The Canadian government cannot help you recover any money sent overseas. The “friend” is usually fictitious and the people behind the scam, as well as your money, are often untraceable.