In a recent article, University Affairs journalist Marie-Lou Bernatchez discusses how criminals are targeting international applicants and students to Canadian universities. Bernatchez explains that applicants are often targeted by large-scale scams that can include fake immigration officials, admission platforms, and websites that mimic university sites. Before and after arriving in Canada, international students are targeted by other scams, such as money laundering, due to their isolation and financial precarity. Université de Montréal Professor David Décary-Hétu explained that the international nature of the crime makes it difficult for police to act. Bernatchez highlights the ways that institutions are responding to these issues by raising awareness, creating verification procedures, and targeting fraudulent sites.
