The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has charged two individuals identified as Hardik Dave and Jainishkumar Patel with 12 criminal counts for allegedly defrauding international students about $126,000.
The border agency said investigation into the suspects started in February 2025 after receiving a tip from Lambton College, prompting officials to interview the victims, who narrated how the defendants scammed them by promising they would assist in paying school fees.
Authorities stated that instead of Messrs Dave and Patel to use the money for the purpose it was intended for, they gave the victims fake university admission documents.
“The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has laid multiple criminal charges after investigating an immigration scheme that defrauded international students of an estimated $126,000,” the CBSA said in a statement.
It added, “The investigation began in February 2025 after the CBSA Intelligence and Enforcement Division received a tip from Lambton College. Investigators interviewed the victims and launched an extensive investigation.
“Two individuals are alleged to have taken money from international students by falsely promising the funds would be used to pay their tuition fees. Victims were provided with fraudulent enrollment documents but were not enrolled in the post-secondary programs that had been promised.”
Subsequently, CBSA officers executed search warrants at the suspects’ homes and businesses, where electronic devices containing the evidence of their fraudulent activities were recovered.
“CBSA executed two search warrants at the residences and businesses of the accused individuals and collected evidence of the fraudulent scheme from electronic devices. Subsequent warrants were obtained to examine the digital forensic data extracted from those devices,” the agency added.
Following the conclusion of the investigation, the suspects were charged with four counts of fraud over $5,000, four counts of forging documents and four counts of counselling misrepresentation on June 2, 2026.
Mr Dave is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice on July, while an international manhunt is underway for Patel, who has reportedly fled Canada.
Commenting on the arrest, Regional Director General, CBSA Southern Ontario Region, Michael Prosia, said “Canada Border Services Agency investigators are uncovering immigration fraud schemes and gathering evidence to bring offenders to justice. In doing so, our officers are upholding the law and protecting vulnerable people from exploitation.”
