今回、ビザコンサルタントからの「留学生詐欺」について連絡がきましたのでお知らせします。
『嘘オフィサー詐欺』日本でも電話の詐欺が多発しているようで、オレオレ詐欺、還付金等詐欺、架空請求詐欺など手口は様々ですが、『嘘オフィサー詐欺』も『振り込め詐欺』の１つとして問題になっています。
下記は、カナダ移民局からのニュースレターです。
Be aware of an ongoing scam targeting international students
Ottawa, December 15, 2017 — International students across Canada have recently reported receiving phone calls from individuals claiming to be employees of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The caller tells the student that to avoid arrest and deportation, they must obtain an immigration lawyer.
IRCC wants international students to know that these phone calls are a scam. It is important not to respond to the caller, or transfer any money to them.
In these calls, the caller identifies themselves as an IRCC officer and tells the student that there is an arrest warrant in their name. The student is advised to obtain an immigration lawyer and is told that they could face arrest or deportation if they do not.
In some cases, students have transferred thousands of dollars to these individuals under the false belief that they are obtaining an immigration lawyer. 移民弁護士を雇ってやる、と言われて何千ドルも支払った学生もいる。
The Government of Canada is committed to protecting immigrants and Canadians alike from this type of fraud. IRCC wants to remind everyone that if someone posing as an immigration official threatens to arrest or deport you, to suspend your account if you don’t pay money or give your personal information, or tells you that your visa or immigration status is in jeopardy, it is a scam.
IRCC will never contact you in person, online, or by telephone to collect fees or fines to avoid deportation or other consequences. 移民局は強制帰国等に関して、電話やネットで個人的に料金や罰金を徴収するようなことはしない。
For more information on how to protect yourself against immigration scams, please visit our website. You can also find a number of helpful questions and answers on how to identify fraud and how to report it in our Help Centre.
それでは、なぜこのような脅しがまかり通ってしまうのか？
もちろん、留学生はその中でもごく少数なものの、こうした詐欺を企てる人にとって、「数を打てば、おびえているターゲットに当たるだろう」と思って電話をかけているのが実態です。
下記は、11月にCBCニュースで放送された記事です。http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/deportation-uncooperative-countries-1.4405383
とにかく、学生ビザで滞在中にこのような電話を受けた場合は、移民局の指示どおりレポート(1-888-495-8501)していただくようにしてください。
