Canada Identity Theft and Student Scam Prevention Guide for Nepali Students 2027

Immigration impersonators may claim the study permit, SIN or PGWP will be cancelled unless immediate payment is made. Verify every request through the official IRCC account or published government phone number. Government officers do not resolve an arrest threat through gift cards, crypto wallets or remote access to a student’s bank.

Fake employers may send a cheque, request equipment purchases, demand a fee for LMIA or training or ask the student to receive and transfer money. A real-looking contract and video interview do not prove legitimacy. Verify the company through its official domain and public registration and never use a personal bank account to move employer funds.

Rental, scholarship, tuition-discount and romance scams can combine trusted names with copied documents. Independently confirm the landlord, school, scholarship body and payment recipient. Do not let a caller keep the student on the phone while making transfers or prevent consultation with family, bank or DLI.

Keep passport, study permit, SIN, banking and tax records in secure physical and encrypted storage. Avoid sending full images through social media or public email. When a verified organization needs a copy, ask which fields are necessary, how it will be stored and whether a secure upload is available.

Use unique passwords and multi-factor authentication for email, banking, DLI, IRCC, CRA and mobile accounts. The email account is a master key because it resets other passwords. Never disclose a password, PIN, card verification value, recovery phrase or one-time code to a caller, employer, consultant or supposed technical-support agent.

Update devices, use screen locks and avoid sensitive transactions on unknown public Wi-Fi. Check URLs before signing in and type important addresses directly. A padlock or professional page design does not prove ownership. Protect the Canadian phone number from SIM-swap fraud with a provider account PIN where available.

End contact without announcing an investigation and do not click more links. Call the bank or card issuer using the number on the card or official site, freeze affected accounts and cards and change credentials from a clean device. Contact the mobile provider, email service, DLI or immigration representative when their account or document is involved.

Save screenshots, emails with headers, phone numbers, usernames, website addresses, receipts, crypto wallet addresses, bank details, courier information and a chronological account. Do not delete embarrassing messages. Give copies rather than surrendering the only evidence and record every case or reference number.

Report the incident to local police when money, identity documents, threats or criminal activity are involved and report fraud or attempted fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. Notify IRCC through official channels if an immigration account or application was compromised. A report creates evidence but does not promise reimbursement.

Check credit reports with both recognized Canadian bureaus for unknown accounts, inquiries, addresses and missed payments. Follow FCAC instructions to dispute errors or fraud and consider alerts when appropriate. Monitor bank, mobile, CRA and IRCC accounts and inspect mail for unexpected cards, bills or government notices.

If a passport or permit was exposed, contact the issuing authority and follow its replacement or security guidance. Tell the DLI and employer only what they need to protect records. Beware of follow-up calls claiming to recover funds for an upfront fee; victim lists are often reused for a second scam.

MKS Education can help organize the incident timeline and official reporting checklist and identify when an authorized immigration, legal or financial professional is needed. It cannot trace criminals, recover money, repair credit or guarantee immigration outcomes. Use official agency contacts rather than numbers supplied by the scammer.

When a policy changes, compare the new instruction with the student’s application date, credential, institution, campus and personal status before deciding what applies. Do not silently replace an old document or reinterpret a rule from a headline. If the effect is uncertain, pause payment or submission and obtain clarification from the responsible authority or a properly authorised professional.

This evidence trail also improves counselling quality. The student and family can see which facts are confirmed, which are estimates and which remain conditional. MKS Education uses this approach to support transparent education planning while leaving admission and immigration decisions with the relevant institutions and Canadian authorities.