Jobs, schools and immigration help

A job offer?

Job scams cost Canadians more than any fraud but three in 2025, as reported to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre:

Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: Top 10 frauds of 2025 (25 February 2026). Read 6 November 2026.

Is it a scam?

The Anti-Fraud Centre's signs of a job scam:

• A web-based email, not the company's
• An offer you didn't apply for
• A deposit up front
• A balance you can't withdraw
• Asked to recruit others
• Money moved through your account
• High pay for little work

What the Anti-Fraud Centre lists to do

• No deposits or fees for a job
• The company's own site and number
• No ID to unverified contacts
• Time before answering

The Anti-Fraud Centre's own words

• “A company uses a web-based email instead of an official business domain.”
• “You receive a job offer you did not apply for.”
• “The job requires upfront deposits”
• “You see a balance on the website or app but cannot withdraw it.”
• “You are asked to recruit others.”
• “You are asked to receive or forward money through your bank account.”
• “The offer promises high pay for minimal work.”
• “Never send deposits or pay fees for a job.”
• “Verify the company's official website and call their official phone number.”
• “Do not share personal information or ID documents with unverified contacts.”
• “Take time before responding to unknown job messages.”

Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: Job scams (16 January 2026). Read 6 November 2026.

An employer hiring from abroad?

• Penalties can be a fine, a ban on hiring temporary workers for a time, or both.
• Among the grounds: “The employer charged the foreign national fees related to their hiring, not including application processing fees.”

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada: Employers who were non-compliant (6 November 2026). Read 6 November 2026.

A recruiter or temp agency?Ontario

Since 1 July 2024, temporary help agencies and recruiters need a licence. What a client pays for knowingly using an unlicensed temporary help agency:

• A temporary help agency posts a $25,000 security for its first licence.
• The application fee is $1,500 since 1 January 2026, for a licence that generally lasts two years.
• The Province's page links a licence status check.

Government of Ontario: Licensing for temporary help agencies and recruiters (4 March 2026). Read 6 November 2026.

Paying for immigration help?

IRCC names three kinds of people licensed to represent you or give immigration advice:

• CanadaConsultants: the CICC registerCollege of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants

  A licence's status and history, and its discipline history, including suspensions and revocations.

  Advice for a fee without a licence is an offence
• CanadaLawyers and notariesImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

  Members of a provincial or territorial law society, or in Quebec the Chambre des notaires.

• OntarioParalegalsImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

  Members of the Law Society of Ontario; Ontario only.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada: Authorized representatives (4 June 2026) · College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants: Public register. Read 6 November 2026.

Enrolling in a school?

Two places that show whether a school or program is what it says:

• CanadaDesignated learning institutionsImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

  Schools approved by a province or territory to host international students. “Not all programs offered by a DLI are eligible for a PGWP”, the work permit after graduation.

• OntarioCareer college enforcementGovernment of Ontario

  Court injunctions, convictions and tribunal decisions against private career colleges since 2007. In an unregistered college or unapproved program, the Act “may not protect you.”

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada: Designated learning institutions list (23 October 2026) · Government of Ontario: Career college compliance notices (14 August 2026). Read 6 November 2026.