Windsor immigration consultant busted
By Karen Mullins
WINDSOR, ON - A Windsor immigration consultant has been charged with eleven counts of fraud after a criminal investigation was conducted by the the RCMP’S immigration and passport section.
Ten victims are said to have been defrauded out of between $2000.00 to $100,000.00 after using the consultant’s services for submitting fees and other payments, RCMP said.
Canadian immigration consultants are regulated by the the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC) and must be members of CSIC to practice in Canada. The membership of the suspect was revoked by the Society on May 5, 2006.
“At this time, we have identified eleven victims, but we believe others have utilized the consultant and had their applications and fees meet the same fate. Often, individuals who have been victimized are reluctant to come forward fearing that reporting their situation will interfere with their ability to gain legal immigration status in Canada,” stated Cpl. Rod Rudiak of the Windsor RCMP.
During the investigation of the firm, Burgio and Associates, police say they found that clients paid the firm to submit, on their behalf, applications and accompanying application fees to Citizenship and Immigration Canada in the hope of gaining status in Canada.
Victims would then discover that there had been no applications that had been submitted.
Francesco Salvatore “Sam” Burgio, Age 45, of Amherstburg, Ontario has been charged with two counts of Fraud Over $5000.00 and nine counts of Fraud under $5000.00.
Anyone who may have been victimized is asked to contact the Windsor RCMP Immigration and Passport Section at (519)948-5287.
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Posted by Karen J. Mullins
on Apr 16 2010. Filed under More News.
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I am one of the victim here.
I can not express my feelings while reading all the news.
Can not trust anyone anymore
In god’s name, will you explain to me how the government allows such hypocrisy movement for that long in creating such a label of so called ghost consultant when the fact remains, that 6 previous Immigration ministers since 2003 operated this broken system and clearly supported the following published advisement on cic website
Which I quote ;Other people who offer immigration advice or assistance- People who provide immigration-related advice or assistance for a fee before the application is filed are not obliged to be authorized representatives.
Reference http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/representative/rep-who.asp
Let’s do reality check for Jason kenney, there is no such a Ghost Consultant in this industry, CIC created over 25000 practitioners in Canada to practice under this advisement. these hypocrites created this label as their main excuse to play CSIC monopoly dirty game for the board to remain in control- self made power and getting richer.
90% of CSIC members recognized by the minister are Immigration expert when the fact shows that all of them are at age between 20 and 30 years old, never had Immigration experience and just barely graduated from colleges after attended 3 hours per week course for 10 months. Are these so called expert consultants but not Ghost consultants, let not mislead the public any longer.
CIC made a survey last June, obviously resulted in 92 % of the complaints were against CSIC members services. Does that tell you something. In your report on Immigration consultants, you reported the following statement,
There likely will be a transition period during which the estimated 1,700 consultants registered with
CSIC will continue to be recognized as legitimate representatives until the new regulatory body is up and running.
I urge you to report that if these 1700 consultants remain in practice for another year or two until a new Federal entity establish, then this minister has continue to run a circus full of clowns. These 1700 are lucky to pass the new regulator exam, time will tell that the minister is going to announce 5 million dollars on creating new regulator when hardly less than 150 out of 1700 pass the exam. Are Canadian tax payers ready to waste 5M on top of 1.2 M already wasted in 2003 for this failed profession.
K, there is a saying here in the states “he who represents himself has a fool for a client”. There are some cases that are more difficult than others and legal help is nessesary. I think I’m getting ripped off as well.
First of all why do one need immigration consultant to follow the simple guide and fill out the simple application form. Secondly be it a licenced or unlicenced consultant – BOTH are interested in money from the applicant… $5000 !!!!! to fill the application form when all the information and documentations are provided by the applicant themselves. Many times even Licenced consultant misguide the people and/or dont give all information before signing the contract then say sorry the application now cannot be processed etc etc. ALL ARE OUT THERE TO MILK MONEY OUT OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO SEE CANADA AS THEIR BETTER FUTURE making us look like a country full of frauds. Google and you will find the Licenced Consultants looking for marketing agents and/or offering FRANCHISES…… well thats a growing business…. Time CIC should put their foot down and encourage SELF APPLICATION ONLY……
I totally agree that one should complete the forms by themselves as they are simple in nature… having said that people coming from overseas with english not their first language (most cases) find it a bit daunting and confusing and should seek EXPERT QUALIFIED help. Unfortunately i personnaly know a victim of Mr Salvatore Burgio and the victims’ expereince and impression of canada was extremely affected in a negative way. The victim has suffer on all aspect:financial, emotional and her trust in what was supposed to be a safe and welcoming country has now been tarnished by this encounter with what canada goverment call “sharks” preying on the weak. I hope the goverment pursues this matter to the fullest and redeem the trust in the canadian immigration system.