Is This an Immigration Scammer? Checker Tool
Something feels off about an immigration consultant or agency? Answer these questions about what you have experienced. Get an honest red-flag assessment, no signup required.
This stays on your device only. We do not store or transmit any information you enter.
Answer based on what you have actually seen or heard. “Yes” means the red flag is present. “No” means it is not. Leave unmarked if you are not sure.
How This Checker Works
This tool scores a consultant or agency against 15 known immigration fraud warning signs, weighted by how strongly each factor predicts scam behavior. The score is not a legal determination. It is a structured checklist built from documented patterns in IRCC fraud advisories, CICC disciplinary records, and widely reported Nigerian diaspora scam cases.
Sum of red flag weights triggered
divided by Maximum possible score
multiplied by 100
Safe: 0-20 points
Caution: 21-45 points
Danger: 46-70 points
Likely Scam: 71-100 points
Critical red flags (guaranteed results, cash only,
ghost RCIC number) carry triple weight.
Why Nigerians Are Targeted by Immigration Scammers
Canada is one of the top japa destinations for Nigerians. High demand, high cost, and complex application processes create exactly the conditions fraudsters exploit. A person who desperately wants to leave Nigeria, has limited knowledge of Canadian immigration rules, and has family abroad sending money is a natural target.
The patterns are consistent and have been documented by IRCC, the CICC (College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants), and Nigerian community organisations in Canada. Common setups include fake consultants operating on WhatsApp and Instagram, websites mimicking official IRCC pages, “visa lottery” offers, ghost agents using real RCIC numbers they do not own, and outright document forgers.
The damage is real. Nigerians lose between CAD 3,000 and CAD 40,000 to immigration fraud annually, often through agents recommended by trusted contacts who were themselves deceived.
The Difference Between Legal and Illegal Immigration Help
Who Can Legally Help You Apply
In Canada, only three categories of people can legally charge fees for immigration assistance. First: Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) registered with the CICC (College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants). Second: Immigration lawyers and Quebec notaries who are members of a Canadian provincial bar or the Chambre des notaires. Third: certain non-profit organisations that provide free or low-cost settlement services.
Everyone else who charges money for immigration help is practicing illegally, even if they claim to be based in Nigeria, even if they have a professional-looking website, and even if they have genuinely helped someone before.
How to Verify an RCIC
The CICC maintains a free public register at college-ic.ca. Search the agent’s full name or membership number. The register shows whether they are in good standing, suspended, or had disciplinary action. If the name does not appear, they are not an RCIC. An RCIC number that belongs to a different person is a serious fraud. If someone gives you a membership number, search the register and confirm the name matches exactly.
The Most Common Canadian Immigration Scams
The Visa Lottery Scam
Canada does not have a visa lottery. There is no “Canada lottery” for PR or work visas. Any agent or website claiming to offer you a spot in a “Canadian visa lottery” is lying. The closest legitimate program (the Parents and Grandparents Program lottery) requires the sponsor to already be a PR or citizen in Canada and is an invitation to apply, not a visa itself.
The Ghost Consultant
A real RCIC number is stolen or invented. The scammer hands you a membership number, you search it and it seems valid, but the number belongs to a real consultant who has no idea you exist. If you submit an application linked to their number without their knowledge, they may not be aware and cannot help you if the application fails. Always call or email the RCIC whose number is provided and confirm they are aware of and representing you directly.
The Guaranteed Approval Offer
No one can guarantee Canadian immigration approval. IRCC makes individual determinations. Any consultant, lawyer, or agency that guarantees approval is either lying or misrepresenting what they can deliver. The CICC’s own Code of Professional Ethics prohibits registered RCICs from guaranteeing outcomes. If a consultant guarantees success, they are either not an RCIC or are violating their professional obligations.
The Upfront Fee That Never Ends
Legitimate consultants charge for their services, and some collect fees before submitting applications. The problem is when the fees keep growing: initial consultation fee, then file preparation fee, then IRCC fee, then a “processing acceleration” fee, then a document fee. Each payment leads to another request. By the time you stop, you have paid far more than a legitimate service would cost and received nothing filed.
Table of Red Flags vs. Normal Practice
| Behavior | Scam Signal? | What Legitimate Agents Do |
|---|---|---|
| Guarantees approval | 🔴 Critical | Discuss likelihood based on profile; no guarantees |
| Cash payments only | 🔴 Critical | Accept bank transfer, credit card, traceable payment |
| Not on CICC register | 🔴 Critical | Easily verifiable at college-ic.ca |
| Requests passport / NIN upfront | 🟠 High | Only after signed contract and verified identity |
| No written contract | 🟠 High | Always provide signed retainer agreement |
| Promotes a “special connection” at IRCC | 🟠 High | No legitimate connection; IRCC is a bureaucracy |
| WhatsApp / Instagram only | 🟡 Medium | Also have a verifiable office or website with contact details |
| Very low fees compared to market | 🟡 Medium | RCIC fees are broadly transparent and comparable |
| Pressures fast decision | 🟡 Medium | Allow time to review contract before signing |
| Cannot explain the process clearly | 🟡 Medium | Can walk through steps, timelines, and what to expect |
