Eta Refused Due to Misrepresentation What to Do
Canadian government 'very concerned' as fake eTA websites scam hapless travellers for 17 times the cost
Some scammers take charged up to 85 euros — virtually $121 — for a service that actually merely costs $7. At to the lowest degree 10 such websites exist 'but there could exist more'
OTTAWA — The Canadian regime is "actively monitoring" fake websites that scam travellers into paying exorbitant fees — as much every bit 17 times the actual cost — for Electronic Travel Dominance, an online registration that'due south before long to be mandatory for many foreign visitors to Canada.
At least 10 such websites exist "but in that location could be more," said Nancy Chan, a spokesperson for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. She said some scammers take charged up to 85 euros — virtually $121 — for a service that actually only costs $7.
The department has handled virtually 500 complaints so far. Some of the complainants paid the unnecessary fees, assertive they were dealing with the Canadian government, while others simply reported what they believed were suspicious websites.
"IRCC is very concerned that travellers are getting defenseless unaware. Not only may they be unknowingly paying unnecessary fees, but they are as well providing personal information to these companies," Chan said.
While there can be jurisdictional issues when sites are based exterior Canada, she explained, the department is waging an "data entrada" through its diplomatic missions and is working with major search engines to keep sites from promoting themselves.
It's also "reviewing" other possible actions, "particularly in the area of copyright infringement," said Chan.
But a Google query Fri institute that one such site still appears on the commencement page of search results.
That website, canadaetavisa.com, borrows language from Canada'due south immigration department but has a disclaimer at the bottom saying it is "a private website non affiliated with Government of Canada."
It includes an application form that asks for passport details, information on available funds for travel, employment history, a slew of other personal information and credit card details for a "$55 USD All inclusive Canadian Regime'southward and data processing fee."
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A terms-of-service page contains an extensive liability warning. The site is registered to a "domains by proxy" service located in Arizona.
Travellers are "advised to utilize only the official Government of Canada website, Canada.ca/eTA" and "to be cautious of other sites that announced legitimate," said an advisory sent out by the Canadian High Commission in Trinidad and Tobago via Facebook final calendar week.
Chan said the department is hopeful that other diplomatic missions will follow accommodate with similar warnings.
eTAs became a requirement in March for visa-exempt travellers. There's a "leniency menses" in result right at present — until Sept. 29, travellers tin can however board their flights without having submitted an eTA form.
The potency, which is electronically linked to people'due south passports, can exist valid for up to five years, or until passports expire. Similar systems take been used for years by other countries, including Australia.
Those who need to obtain eTAs earlier boarding flights to Canada include U.S. Permanent Residents and citizens of nigh European and Caribbean countries, Commonwealth of australia, New Zealand, Israel and some Asian and S American countries.
One time visa requirements are lifted for Mexican citizens, on Nov. 30, according to a printing release from the prime government minister's function, Mexicans will also require eTA.
Canadians, American citizens and people with valid visas for Canada need non apply.
Email: mdsmith@postmedia.com | Twitter: mariedanielles
Source: https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-government-very-concerned-as-fake-eta-websites-scam-hapless-travellers
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