On March 3, 2025, the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (College) will launch a new Fraud Prevention Month campaign to help safeguard the public from immigration fraud.
The Campaign uses the hashtag #FPM2025 and can be found on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
The theme of this year’s campaign – Immigration fraud can be hard to spot – encourages people around the world who want to work with a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) to first check the College’s Public Register to verify they are not unknowingly falling prey to an Unauthorized Practitioner (UAP).
A UAP is anyone who illegally provides Canadian immigration advice for a fee or other consideration without being licensed by the College, or a member of a Canadian law society or the Chambre des notaires du Québec.
“UAPs pose significant risks to the public because they are not licensed or regulated,” said John Murray, the College’s President & CEO. “Our campaign sends a simple message – if you choose to work with an immigration consultant, confirm that they are licensed by the College by checking our Public Register. Checking the Public Register is one of the best ways people can protect themselves from immigration fraud, which can have a devastating impact on prospective newcomers hoping to make Canada their home.”
The campaign will run in English, French, Hindi, Punjabi, Arabic and Simplified Chinese, both in Canada and in 16 of the top source countries for immigration to Canada. The campaign will also include English transit ads in Vancouver and Toronto, and French transit ads in Ottawa and Montréal.
The College is a member of the Fraud Prevention Forum, which works together to protect consumers through education on how to recognize, reject, and report fraud.