Eta scams, how do you know?

[Tomywhite]

Hey all,
Just wanted to know anyone's experience with the eta scams that have been happening from non official websites and how do you know if yours is fake and even registers on the canadian governments system.
I got mine June 2016 right when it was new and they were getting away with it, I think mine maybe fake. ..

 

[Buletruck]

You could spend the $7 and apply for a new one on the government website if you doubt the authenticity. Cheap to ensure you can get on a plane.

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/eta/apply.html

 

[Tomywhite]

If there's a small chance that the first is real, wont that confuse things?

 

[Buletruck]

Haven’t tried applying for one, but I suspect (although not certain) it would tell you if you already have a valid eTA.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Hey all,
Just wanted to know anyone's experience with the eta scams that have been happening from non official websites and how do you know if yours is fake and even registers on the canadian governments system.
I got mine June 2016 right when it was new and they were getting away with it, I think mine maybe fake. ..

https://onlineservices-servicesenligne.cic.gc.ca/eta/applicationQuery?lang=en

 

[Bs65]

If in doubt and even the ETA checker seems notoriously unreliable in returning a positive result just apply for a new one, at 7 dollars is a bargain when compared to the US 2 year ESTA.

People on here have received ETas with their COPRs and work permits, not trusted they have one due to a negative response from the ETA checker, so they just apply new again with no issue.

If the official ETA checker works then fine anyway https://onlineservices-servicesenligne.cic.gc.ca/eta/applicationQuery?lang=en

 

[Rob_TO]

Hey all,
Just wanted to know anyone's experience with the eta scams that have been happening from non official websites and how do you know if yours is fake and even registers on the canadian governments system.
I got mine June 2016 right when it was new and they were getting away with it, I think mine maybe fake. ..

What scams are out there? For such a cheap price to begin with, why would anyone not simply use the valid "www.canada.ca" site to apply for their eTA?

 

[KBH]

What scams are out there? For such a cheap price to begin with, why would anyone not simply use the valid "www.canada.ca" site to apply for their eTA?

I would imagine for many people who don't speak English or French as a first language, it is easier for them to be misled about which is the proper site to apply for the eTA. For example, if I search for "apply eTA canada" on google, literally none of the results on the first page are the legitimate website.

 

[Tomywhite]

What scams are out there? For such a cheap price to begin with, why would anyone not simply use the valid "www.canada.ca" site to apply for their eTA?

As KBH said, its is easy enough to make this mistake when you are new to international travel and such a convicing site is at the top of the list. Also eta's were very new to me and canada at the time of purchase.
I am just surprised they did not pick up on it at the border after landing...

 

[Rob_TO]

As KBH said, its is easy enough to make this mistake when you are new to international travel and such a convicing site is at the top of the list. Also eta's were very new to me and canada at the time of purchase.
I am just surprised they did not pick up on it at the border after landing...

They don't check eTA at the border, it's only used by an airline to issue a ticket to someone and allow boarding. So if one has a fake eTA, they will find out when they are denied boarding on a plane to Canada.

eTAs are not needed or looked at if showing up directly at a Canadian border.

Luckily as mentioned above, there is an easy link to check if any given eTA is valid or not.

This is not the only immigration scam. There are fake sites all over that will guarantee you a TRV, LMIA approved work visa, PR, etc if you just enter your credit card info.

 

[Tomywhite]

The complication is, I traveled under a normal national police check that was clear and not an AFP police check as I was unaware and have since have found a conviction just over 10 yrs old. As the basic national police check was clear there was no convicing to report on the eta, and now it seems that there is. I hope that this will not be picked up at the border after I hand over the new eta, if the original was a scam I should not have to worry... complications. .

 

[Tomywhite]

They don't check eTA at the border, it's only used by an airline to issue a ticket to someone and allow boarding. So if one has a fake eTA, they will find out when they are denied boarding on a plane to Canada.

eTAs are not needed or looked at if showing up directly at a Canadian border.

Luckily as mentioned above, there is an easy link to check if any given eTA is valid or not.

This is not the only immigration scam. There are fake sites all over that will guarantee you a TRV, LMIA approved work visa, PR, etc if you just enter your credit card info.

I did that check and it could not find the number, so I'm left in a bit of a grey area now as I have already flown with that eta. Good news they don't look at etas at the border though, Eases my mind..

 

[Rob_TO]

I did that check and it could not find the number, so I'm left in a bit of a grey area now as I have already flown with that eta. Good news they don't look at etas at the border though, Eases my mind..

I still don't understand your situation and why you're posting under family class sponsorship section of forum.

Are you applying for PR, or have already landed as a PR and waiting for PR card? Or just traveling as a visitor with visa-exempt passport?

 

[Tomywhite]

My Fiance is living over there and will be sponsoring my PR through family sponsorship in the coming months, this eta issue is the first step that needs to be sorted before I make the application.

 

[Rob_TO]

My Fiance is living over there and will be sponsoring my PR through family sponsorship in the coming months, this eta issue is the first step that needs to be sorted before I make the application.

Well if you already traveled on your passport to Canada within the past year, then you know whatever eTA you have is valid, else the airline wouldn't have let you board in the first place. Way back when you got your eTA they weren't actually mandatory so people could still travel without a valid eTA linked to their passport. I believe they became mandatory around Nov 2016.

If you haven't traveled to Canada since eTA became mandatory, then to be safe you can apply for a new one if one is not showing up when you check eTA status online.

On a side note, hopefully your old conviction does not affect your PR app. As long as it was minor and it's been more than 10 years since any sentence was completed, you should be deemed rehabilitated. Just make absolutely sure you disclose it in your upcoming PR app.