EXCLUSIVE: Immigration officials silent on online scams selling fake language scores

Federal immigration authorities are silent about illicit online advertisements actively targeting newcomers to Canada with fraudulent claims about bypassing Canada’s immigration language requirements.

Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab, with Prime Minister Mark Carney (Source: Lena Metlege Diab Facebook)

Federal immigration authorities are silent about illicit online advertisements actively targeting newcomers to Canada with fraudulent claims about bypassing Canada’s immigration language requirements.

Several online ads are misleading prospective immigrants into believing they can bypass English proficiency tests and get approved for visas without taking an exam.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada requires applicants for several work-related visas and those seeking permanent residency in Canada to have Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) accreditation or the French language equivalents to be accepted.

Neither Canada's immigration minister, Lena Metlege Diab, nor the IRCC, nor Paragon Testing, which runs the CELPIP program and is accredited by the IRCC to give CELPIP licensing, responded to True North’s requests for comment.

However, several online ads are misleading migrants by suggesting they can bypass the program's exams, upgrade their previous scores, or even purchase leaked exam questions and answers to achieve accreditation.

One such ad on Facebook from the Celpip Success Hub with Study Material Questions and Answers page tells migrants they can purchase IELTS and CELPIP scores “without exam.”

“We ensure that your IELTS and CELPIP scores are not only authentic but also verified in the official portal,” the group claims. “Obtain your best IELTS and CELPIP scores without taking the exam in 2025.”

Another group, identifying as the CELPIP Test Center Clb10+, advertised "leaked questions and answers" for the CELPIP exam and offered "upgrades/modifications" to test scores.

"Issuance of the CELPIP certificate without taking the test and with your desired scores," the ad promised.

One ad on Instagram from the page celpip_belts_exam, similarly claimed to provide “authentic leaked questions and answers, upgrade of failed scores into pass (sic)” and to “offer authentic certificates without exams.”

Posts in the same group also alleged the ability to "adjust and upgrade" migrants' low scores to their "target scores."

“We provide celpip candidates with exact leaked questions and answers to help them achieve their desire results for their IRCC document and PR,” the post said. “We also provide direct certificate without candidate necessary have to sit in for the exam. (sic)”

The official CELPIP website warns applicants about such scams operating on social media platforms including WhatsApp, X and Reddit.

“You might see people offering fake CELPIP Registrations, fake CELPIP Score Report Certificates or fake CELPIP practice tests on social media and other websites. These scammers are committing serious crimes, and paying them can jeopardize your immigration journey,” the official website reads.

The website warns that buying a CELPIP registration voucher or score report certificate from an unverified source could waste money and lead to rejection from the immigration process.

“Because all CELPIP Registration vouchers and scores are electronically verified. Fake CELPIP registrations will not be recognized by our test centres,” the warning reads, “If you use a fake CELPIP score report certificate, your results will be rejected and you might be reported to authorities – jeopardizing your immigration, professional, or education goals.”

A list of accredited CELPIP voucher providers is available on the website. Fraudulent CELPIP activity can be reported to Paragon Testing via its website.

Paragon Testing, IRCC, and Diab did not respond to questions regarding assurances about the integrity of language proficiency tests.