Scammers posing as Immigration Officers target elderly in York Region

Citynews.ca
Oct. 23, 2015

York Regional Police say they’ve received numerous complaints about fraudsters who are trying to bilk senior citizens out of cash while posing as Canadian Immigration Officers.

The targets have been primarily people of South East Asian descent.

“Suspects are advising victims over the phone that there are errors in the paperwork that Immigration Canada has on file,” police said in a release. “The suspects tell the victims that if they don’t immediately wire money, they may face deportation or jail time.”

Police say the scam is a variation of another one that’s made headlines lately, where people claiming to be from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) demand cash to rectify tax problems.

In September, two scammers took things a step further, attending a home in Brampton dressed as police officers.

The men, both described as white, showed up at a home in the Bovaird and Kennedy roads area, saying they were there to collect money on behalf of the CRA.

“The victim advised that he had no money and the suspects directed him to attend a bank to transfer funds to an account number that they provided,” Peel police said in a release.

“The victim then contacted 911 to report the incident.”

Police say they would never collect funds on behalf of the CRA, and they are warning residents to remain vigilant.