Fake Document and Official-Impersonation Red Flags in Canada

Key facts, each from an official page we opened

ICBC: it does not contact customers by text about driving infractions or outstanding debt and does not ask for payment through links in texts.
IRCC: it never asks for a deposit to a personal bank account, a private money transfer or payment by phone, never threatens you and does not start conversations on social media.
CELPIP and IDP: certificates cannot be bought; results are verified electronically and fakes are rejected.
ESDC: no recruitment fees may be charged to the temporary foreign worker, directly or indirectly; a SIN is always free.

One flag is a reason to slow down. Three is an answer. We list each with the official statement it comes from, so you can check it rather than trust us.

Flags about the message

A threat and a deadline. Licence suspension, demerit points and fees in North Bay's notice; arrest and deportation in IRCC's student notice.
A link to pay. ICBC says it does not ask customers to confirm identity or pay through links in a text.
A number you did not give. North Bay police said the texts came from changing numbers that originate outside Canada.
A generic greeting or a free email address. IRCC says “Dear customer” and Gmail, Yahoo or Hotmail senders are signs, and that official email ends in .gc.ca or Canada.ca.
It started on social media. IRCC does not begin conversations there; CELPIP lists WhatsApp, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Reddit as places fake offers appear.

Flags about the offer

Skip the test, the exam or the process. IDP: “Buy IELTS without giving exam” is nothing but a scam. Every licensing handbook we opened has tests.
A deal for immigrants. IRCC never offers special deals to people who want to immigrate.
A fee for a job offer or an LMIA. ESDC requires employers to ensure that no recruitment fees are charged to the worker.
A fee for a SIN. There is no legitimate fee to apply for, replace or protect a SIN.
An IDP from anyone but CAA. CAA says any non-CAA permit is fake.

Flags about the payment

A personal bank account, a private money transfer or a card number over the phone: IRCC lists each as something it never does.
A passport service that takes payment online for anything but a renewal: the Government's fee page says only renewals can be paid online right now.
Extra fees from someone claiming to be test-company staff: CELPIP says to check with customer service, because scammers sometimes use real employees' names and photos.

Flags about the site

The address does not match what you typed. IRCC lists a mismatched address bar and a missing https padlock as flags.
A site that claims to be affiliated with the Government. The Competition Bureau's July 2026 charges concern such claims about passport services, and remain allegations.
A site that appears first in search results. Placement tells you nothing about who runs it.

A flag table by scenario

Scenario	Red flag	What the official source says
Ticket text	Pay by link or lose your licence	ICBC does not text about infractions or debt.
Immigration call	Pay by transfer or be deported	IRCC never collects fees or fines to avoid deportation.
Job offer	Pay for the LMIA	No recruitment fees may be charged to the worker.
Language certificate	High score, no test	Scores are verified electronically and fakes are rejected.
SIN call	Your SIN is blocked	ESDC warns that such claims are scam tactics.
Passport site	A government look-alike with extra fees	Fees are set and paid to the Government.

Why the flags work

None of them proves a message is fake on its own. A real agency can contact you. What the official warnings share is that real agencies stay inside a narrow set of channels and payment routes, and scammers cannot, because the money has to reach a person. That is why the payment flags are the most reliable, and why we keep returning to them.

If you spotted several

Do not engage. Keep a screenshot, then use where to report fraud in Canada. If you already paid, go to what to do now.

Frequently asked questions

What are the signs of a scam text from a government agency?

A threat and a deadline, a link to pay, an unknown number and a request for personal information. ICBC says it does not contact customers by text about driving infractions or debt.

What does IRCC say it will never do?

It never asks you to deposit money into a personal bank account or use a private money transfer service, never threatens you, offers no special deals, does not use free email services and does not start conversations on social media.

Is a certificate with no test a scam?

Yes. CELPIP and IDP both say certificates cannot be bought and that scores are verified, so a fake will be rejected.

Is paying for a job offer a scam?

Under Temporary Foreign Worker Program requirements the employer must ensure no recruitment fees are charged to the worker. Paying for the offer is a red flag.

Sources and official links

About the author
Written by Mark Dent from the Criminal Code of Canada, provincial and federal government pages, regulator notices and court reporting. We do not sell, issue or arrange any licence, certificate or other document, and we are not a government body. Read the editorial policy, or report a mistake.