OINP Issues Fraud Warning

Important:  You will never receive a confirmation letter or nomination certificate from the OINP if you have not applied to the program and do not have an application pending.

Some members of the public have been receiving emails with a false Ontario Certificate of Nomination attached, requesting a “Right of Permanent Residence Fee” (RPRF).

These certificates bear the Government of Ontario Logo and the address of 400 University Avenue in Toronto.

This fraudulent activity can be identified through the following markers:

  • No Certificate of Nomination will ever be emailed to you by the OINP.
  • The contact telephone and fax number on the certificate contain a 708 area code. This is not an area code used in Ontario and is not connected to the OINP in any way.
  • The false nomination certificate refers to the CIC Visa Office. The Federal Government of Canada has changed the name of the department that deals with Canadian immigration. It is now called Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
  • You will never be asked to make a payment to the OINP through a wire transfer, and you will never be asked to pay a ‘Right of Permanent Residence Fee’. Applicants to the OINP pay a one-time upfront administration fee to the program, through the online system, and do not pay for a nomination certificate when and if it is granted.

It is important to note that the OINP, as well as any other Canadian Immigration Program, will never contact you by phone or email to make a payment. If you receive such a call or email, please forward the information to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program immediately at ProgramIntegrityTeam@ontario.ca.

Never give out personal information such as account numbers, mother’s maiden name, passwords or other identifying information in response to unsolicited emails or calls.

To report fraud, contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre by telephone at 1-888-495-8501 or through their website: http://www.antifraudcentre-centreanitfraude.ca.

To read full release, click here.