Police are warning the Chinese community in GTA that a scam is targeting members of their community. The scam, which the police say is too good to be true, promises Chinese people via an ad in local Chinese newspapers that their company can help secure travel documents going to Canada from China. The fraudulent company is called Gao Sheng Investment Corporation.
Fictitious Company and Fictitious Names
Peel Region Police are getting alarmed over reports from people that nearly became victims of an immigration scam perpetuated by a fictitious company. The company in question uses ads on a local Chinese newspaper to lure victims with promises of travel documents from China to Canada.
Gao Sheng Investment Corporation is a fictitious company that promises unsuspecting Chinese people that they can provide work permits, travel visas, visitor visas and immigration documents. The scam is targeting people who would want to secure travel documents for relatives so they can travel from China to Canada.
The police are warning anyone who might fall victim to the scam that deals that sound too good to be true are probably bogus.
The fake ads were published in several daily Chine-language newspapers that distribute throughout the GTA, shared Const. Mark Fischer to CBC Toronto. The police are declining to name the publications since they have no responsibility over the alleged scams by the questionable company.
History of Fraud
Investigators say that the company Gao Sheng Investment Corporation does not exist and that the same name has been used by culprits in the past. Const. Mark Fischer shared that the same company name has been involved in a fraudulent incident in 2015.
The police shared that the scammers usually ask victims to make a deposit to their accounts in exchange for plane tickets and visas, adding that the company won?t accept any other payment except upfront payment in cash.
The police added that the perpetrators will never meet with victims in business areas during the entire process, preferring to just meet at home or public spaces like restaurants and coffee shops. The police also said that the scammers would often provide fake identification to make victims think they are legitimate.
Just to be clear, no travel documents nor plain tickets were provided by the company after payment has been made. Victims were defrauded of sums between $1,000 to $10,000, according to Const. Fischer.
Current Updates
As of today, no charges have been filed against the scammers yet. The police have issued warnings to potential victims not to believe such companies and to fact check company names and contact details before handing over any amount of money.
It is to be noted that Peel isn?t the only region the scam is operating in as similar scams were also reported in Toronto in April of this year. Investigations for that are also currently ongoing.
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