Toronto, April 2 -- Canada's immigration department has warned that individuals caught submitting fake documents could face a five-year ban from entering the country. The warning by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is for both applicants and immigration agents. "Scammers want to take your hard-earned money and make false promises about helping you come to or stay in Canada," one post said. "They may claim they can speed up approvals or fix problems with an application." In an earlier warning, IRCC stated that individuals found submitting fraudulent documents in visa applications are legally barred from entering or remaining in Canada for at least five years, urging applicants to provide genuine documentation and report immigration and citizenship scams. The department has also increased scrutiny across multiple visa categories, including work permits, study permits and asylum claims. Concerns about fraud were highlighted in a report on International Student Program reforms submitted to Parliament on March 23 by Auditor General Karen Hogan. "The department needs to act on the information it has to address integrity concerns in the program," Hogan said in a statement. The report found that between 2023 and 2024, IRCC identified more than 153,000 international students as potentially non-compliant with study permit conditions but had resources to investigate only about 2,000 cases annually. In three investigations, officials identified 800 study permits issued between 2018 and 2023 where applicants had allegedly used fraudulent documents or misrepresented information to gain entry into Canada. Many later applied for additional immigration permits after arriving in the country. The report noted that 710 applicants claimed educational credentials from overseas institutions later found to be either non-existent or operating primarily to sell qualifications for immigration purposes. No enforcement action was taken in those cases, and about 110 of those individuals have since filed asylum claims. The Auditor General recommended that IRCC follow up on all applications flagged for potential fraud through its new verification system. In response, IRCC agreed to provide the Canada Border Services Agency each year with a list of individuals whose permits have expired and who have not obtained extensions, transitioned to permanent residence, or otherwise maintained valid immigration status....