6/10/24, 1:25 PM [PeerHelp] Unraveling Canada's Biggest Student Immigration Fraud: A Brampton-Based Private College Scandal and Its

Its Devastati…

Unraveling Canada's Biggest Student Immigration Fraud: A Brampton-Based Private College Scandal and Its
Devastating Ripple Effect
*In this article, names of individuals, companies, and educational institution have been omitted to ensure
personal security of the writer. However, those familiar with the international student recruitment industry will
likely identify the subjects of this investigation.*
Canada's reputation as a premier destination for international students has been significantly tarnished by
one of the largest and most intricate student immigration fraud schemes in recent history. The scandal,
centered around a private college located in Brampton, Ontario, has exposed a web of deceit and corruption
involving millions of dollars. Owned by two brothers, one a resident of Canada and the other a resident of
India, this fraud, estimated at above $60 million CAD tuition fees fraud of over 5,000 students enrolled at the
private college between 2022 and 2024, has far-reaching implications for Canada's immigration system,
economy, and the thousands of genuine students who seek quality education and better opportunities in the
country.
The Modus Operandi: A Web of Deceit
The fraudulent scheme, masterminded by one of the brothers who runs an education consultancy and an
online portal in Haryana, India, was executed with precision and audacity. Between 2022 and early 2024, he
built an extensive network of recruitment agents across Punjab and Haryana. These agents were tasked with
recruiting over 5,000 students for the private college under a highly attractive scheme: they could pay the
tuition fees after the students' visas were approved. The tuition fee collected was a mere $6,000 CAD per
student, less than half of what was listed by the Ontario Ministry of Education.
Counterfeit tuition fee receipts indicating full payment were submitted with the visa applications of these
students to IRCC even before they had actually paid the fees to the private college's management. This was
done in an attempt to secure visa approval under the SDS scheme. The SDS (Study Direct Stream) is a
streamlined process for international students from certain countries to apply for study permits in Canada. It
aims to make the application process faster and more efficient by setting specific requirements, such as
upfront tuition payment, medical exams, and proof of funds. This helps eligible students get their study
permits quicker, making it easier for them to study in Canada.
To evade taxes, a significant portion of these fees was collected in cash in India after the visa approvals of
students, allowing the brother in India to bypass GST and income taxes by deducting agent commissions in
cash. Similarly, HST taxes and income tax were evaded in Canada by not transferring significant tuition fees
meant to be deposited in Canada.
The education consultancy and other agents sold this post-visa package to students for amounts ranging
from 10 to 15 lakhs INR (approximately $20,000 to $25,000 CAD). This resulted in a total fraud amount
exceeding $100 million CAD, equivalent to INR 6200 crores.
Manipulation and Forgery: Building a House of Cards
In a bid to increase visa approval rates, more than 70% of the students enrolled at the private college were
provided with forged or manipulated high school and degree certificates that showed inflated GPAs. Many of
these students had never attended high school and were entirely unqualified for the vocational programs
they enrolled in at the private college. This massive influx of unqualified students has had a devastating
impact on Canada's immigration system and its educational integrity.
An insider from the staff revealed that most students who join the college have different academic mark
sheets than what shows on the computer system of the college. This discrepancy has further exposed the
extent of manipulation and forgery involved in the scam.
Money Laundering and Tax Evasion: The Dark Side of the Scam
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Post-scandal, the two brothers have reportedly been settling the cash collected as tuition fees through the
Hawala route to Dubai from India. This illicit transfer method, often used to launder money, has allowed them
to evade taxes in both India and Canada. The brothers are now using this laundered money to purchase
personal properties in Dubai, showcasing a blatant disregard for the financial and legal systems of the
countries involved. This move not only highlights their audacity but also underscores the systemic flaws that
allowed such a massive fraud to occur.
The Inner Circle's Complicity: A Network of Corruption
Despite the magnitude of this fraud, many within the international student recruitment industry are aware of
the brothers' and their team members' activities but continue to support them. Shockingly, several public
colleges still collaborate with the brother in India and his company, an online portal, to recruit students from
India and globally. There have been numerous reports of public college managers being bribed by the online
portal and its team members to secure recruitment contracts, perpetuating a cycle of corruption and
unethical practices.
The ICEF Conference: A Facade of Legitimacy
The online portal's sudden emergence as a Gold and Platinum sponsor for the prestigious ICEF conference—a
key event in the international student recruitment industry—has raised many eyebrows. The ICEF conference
is a significant platform where education institutions, service providers, and recruitment agents come
together to discuss and shape the future of international education. The online portal’s prominent
sponsorship status, despite its known fraudulent activities, underscores the pervasive nature of corruption in
the industry. The inner circle's continued support for the online portal, despite its involvement in one of the
biggest immigration frauds, highlights a troubling trend where financial incentives and bribes override ethical
considerations.
The Devastating Impact: A Tainted Dream
The private college scandal has cast a long shadow over the international education industry, exacerbating
existing issues and creating new challenges. Bribery and unethical practices are becoming alarmingly
common, undermining the credibility of legitimate educational institutions and recruitment agencies. This
pervasive corruption erodes trust in the system, deterring genuine students from pursuing educational
opportunities abroad and damaging Canada’s reputation as a fair and transparent destination for
international students.
Consequences for Genuine Students: A Broken Promise
The fallout from the private college scandal extends beyond the fraudulent students and affects the entire
international student community. Genuine students, who have come to Canada with the hope of receiving a
quality education and building a better future, find themselves overshadowed by the fraudulent activities of a
few. These students face increased scrutiny and longer processing times for their visas and study permits.
Thousands of students are now suffering to change colleges as they will not get Post Graduate Work Permits
due to joining the private college. They are also suffering to change to public colleges, as they will not meet
enough points to get PR in Canada. They are mostly suffering as they are not getting jobs or part-time jobs,
as they were never qualified enough.
In Brampton, where many of these students reside, there has been a noticeable increase in unemployment.
The unqualified students, unable to secure jobs in their fields of study, often resort to gig jobs such as driving
for Uber or delivering for DoorDash. This oversupply of labor in the gig economy has not only saturated the
job market but has also driven down wages, making it difficult for all workers, including genuine students, to
make ends meet.
The Suffering of Educational Institutions: Collateral Damage

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Legitimate colleges and universities are also suffering. The scandal has damaged the reputation of Ontario’s
private colleges, leading to a decline in international student applications and enrollments. This, in turn,
affects the financial stability of these institutions, which rely heavily on tuition fees from international
students. The ripple effect of this fraud has far-reaching consequences, from economic strain and job market
saturation to the tarnishing of Canada’s reputation as a top destination for international students.
Insider's Perspective: A Bleeding Heart for the Industry
An insider from the international student recruitment industry, who wishes to remain anonymous, shared
their distress over the ongoing fraud and corruption: "It breaks my heart to see the integrity of our
immigration and education systems being compromised. The actions of a few corrupt individuals have not
only defrauded students but have also tarnished the reputation of our entire industry. We need stricter
regulations and more accountability to ensure that such frauds do not happen again."
The Need for Stronger Oversight and Accountability: A Call to Action
This massive fraud highlights the urgent need for stronger oversight and accountability in the international
student recruitment process. The Canadian government must implement stringent measures to ensure that
private colleges and recruitment agencies adhere to ethical practices and maintain transparency in their
operations.
Moreover, there must be severe penalties for those found guilty of such fraudulent activities to deter others
from engaging in similar schemes. It is also essential to provide support and protection for the students who
fall victim to such frauds, ensuring that they can continue their education and achieve their goals without
undue hardship.
This whole plan has damaged Canada's reputation as an education destination, and over $60 million worth of
tuition fees was not exported to Canada from India, hence resulting in a national loss.
Conclusion: A Path Forward
The private college scandal is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in Canada’s immigration and education
systems. The ripple effect of this fraud has far-reaching consequences, from economic strain and job market
saturation to the tarnishing of Canada’s reputation as a top destination for international students. To restore
trust and integrity, it is imperative that all stakeholders, including the government, educational institutions,
and recruitment agencies, work together to ensure a transparent, fair, and ethical system for international
student recruitment. Only then can Canada continue to attract and nurture the talent that drives its success
on the global stage.
The private college scandal serves as a wake-up call for the entire international education community. The
need for robust checks and balances, transparency, and accountability has never been more critical. It is time
to reclaim the integrity of Canada’s education system and ensure that the dreams of genuine students are not
shattered by the greed and deceit of a few.

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