Just hours after IRCC’s fraud-prevention launch, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) released its own March 2 news bulletin warning Canadians and prospective travellers about impersonation scams. Fraudsters have been spoofing CBSA phone numbers, emails and even officer names to demand money for fictitious customs duties or to threaten arrest if personal data is not provided. The agency stressed that it never contacts individuals to solicit Social Insurance Numbers, credit-card information or e-transfers. Victims are urged to hang up, ignore suspicious texts or emails, and file complaints with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
![CBSA issues parallel fraud alert: ‘We will never ask for your SIN or credit-card number’]()
For those looking for an extra layer of assurance before they travel, VisaHQ’s Canadian portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) offers up-to-date visa and entry-requirement intelligence, along with experts who can help verify the authenticity of any correspondence that claims to be from border authorities.
The reminder is part of a whole-of-government push during Fraud Prevention Month to protect the integrity of border operations. For global-mobility managers, the advisory underscores the need to brief travelling staff—especially newcomers unfamiliar with Canadian processes—on legitimate CBSA contact protocols. Organisations should circulate internal guidance that any payment of customs duties is handled at official ports of entry or through Canada Post’s online system, never by phone. CBSA’s fraud alert also dovetails with its broader “Border Modernisation” initiative, which will introduce more self-service kiosks and mobile applications. While technology streamlines crossings, it also creates new vectors for scams, placing a premium on traveller education.
For those looking for an extra layer of assurance before they travel, VisaHQ’s Canadian portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) offers up-to-date visa and entry-requirement intelligence, along with experts who can help verify the authenticity of any correspondence that claims to be from border authorities.
The reminder is part of a whole-of-government push during Fraud Prevention Month to protect the integrity of border operations. For global-mobility managers, the advisory underscores the need to brief travelling staff—especially newcomers unfamiliar with Canadian processes—on legitimate CBSA contact protocols. Organisations should circulate internal guidance that any payment of customs duties is handled at official ports of entry or through Canada Post’s online system, never by phone. CBSA’s fraud alert also dovetails with its broader “Border Modernisation” initiative, which will introduce more self-service kiosks and mobile applications. While technology streamlines crossings, it also creates new vectors for scams, placing a premium on traveller education.
