Canadian High Commission warns Kenyans of visa scam
By Faith Lagat, November 21, 2025The High Commission of Canada in Kenya has issued an urgent warning to Kenyan visa applicants and newcomers about a surge in text-message scams impersonating Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
In a statement posted on its official X account on Friday, November 21, 2025, the High Commission said: “Visa scam alert! Did you receive a text asking for personal information from ‘IRCC’? If it seems too good to be true, it probably is!”
The warning comes during International Fraud Awareness Week, highlighting fraudulent messages that request sensitive personal information under the guise of official immigration communication.
Guidance on recognising fraud
The High Commission emphasised that genuine Canadian government agencies never solicit personal information through unsolicited texts. It directed the public to official resources on fraud prevention and listed specific red flags under the heading “Fraud targeting newcomers.”
“When you’re new to Canada, you may not be used to how companies or the government do business. As a resident, you have rights and freedoms protected by Canadian law,” the statement read. It urged individuals to “Protect yourself and others by learning how to recognise common scams aimed at newcomers and how to report possible scams.”
The Canadian commission noted that common fraud types identified include:
- People posing as Government of Canada staff
- Phishing emails or text messages
- Computer virus scams
- Fake prizes and contests
- Tax scams
Official payment rules and red flags
The statement outlined procedures for safe payments and legitimate IRCC interactions: “No one can guarantee you a job or a visa to Canada or permanent residence. Only immigration officers in Canada at Canadian embassies, high commissions and consulates can decide to issue a visa,”
“IRCC processing fees are the same for all of our services in Canada and around the world. Fees in local currencies are based on official exchange rates. They’re the same amount as fees in Canadian dollars. IRCC accepts online payment. Follow the instructions on our website to pay your fees online.”
It also stressed what legitimate IRCC employees will never do: “IRCC employees will never ask you to deposit money into a personal bank account, rush you into paying fees right away, ask you to transfer money or pay fees using prepaid credit cards, Western Union, MoneyGram, gift cards or any other similar services, threaten to arrest or deport you, offer special deals, promise approval for sending more money or information, use free email services such as Hotmail, Gmail or Yahoo Mail, or ask for private information except to verify information already given.”
The High Commission urged Kenyans to remain vigilant and report any suspected fraud immediately through official Government of Canada channels.